LONGVIEW (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas bar owners continue to fight Governor Abbott’s decision to scale back the state’s reopening amid a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Many businesses across the state fear they won’t financially recover from the second shutdown.
Melissa Lynn Kelly owns Outlaws Longview bar in Longview. She had her liquor license suspended for 30 days after refusing to close following Governor Abbott’s decision to shut bars down for a second time.
“They can literally take everything that I’ve worked hard for,” said Kelly. “But you can go out here and get a tattoo. You can go out here and get your hair done. You can get your nails done.”
Kelly told WBAP News on Wednesday that she has had to let several employees go since her business closed.
“One of my employees who worked part time as a bar back was so distraught that she couldn’t pay her bills or income taxes,” said Kelly. “On Monday she took her own life.”
Kelly is one of dozens of Texas bar owners now suing the state, claiming they weren’t given enough notice ahead of the closing. She is pleading with Governor Abbott to allow bars to get back to business under social distancing guidelines.
“He makes decisions that he doesn’t know anything about,” said Kelly. “Because he doesn’t get out here and get face to face to see what’s going on. It’s really sad.”
The Texas bar industry employs roughly 800,000 people.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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