INDIANAPOLIS — Bars and distilleries in Indianapolis are working to figure out what's next as they once again are ordered to close their doors to the public.
It's all because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Marion County.``
Leaders with Hotel Tango said they knew closing again was a possibility but they have a plan in place and they're working to adjust their business model.
If you're looking to go to a bar or nightclub in Indianapolis, you'll probably find a closed sign on the door.
"It sounds like we've had folks knocking on the door throughout the day," Ginger Barnes, VP of operations for Hotel Tango, said. "So, yeah, having to turn people away yet who haven't heard the news which you never want to do."
The inside once again quiet and empty as Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett orders bars to close for the second time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We hear the information and we say, 'OK, how do we move forward,'" Barnes said.
At Hotel Tango, moving forward means shifting the focus toward the sale of their products, their hand sanitizer and PPE.
LEARN MORE | Hotel Tango Distillery PPE products
"We are all in this together. We all have to do our part," Barnes said. "Nobody gets through this without suffering and we are going to continue to be flexible."
Some say the second closure will be tough on people who work in the service industry and rely on customers and tips. The timing is especially hard as the additional $500 a week pandemic unemployment benefit is set to end July 31.
"We were hopeful that we had gotten through the bulk of the storm but we also understand that the priority is the health and safety of the city and the world for that matter so we are going to do whatever we have to do to contribute in a meaningful way," Barnes said.
