×

Customers ‘happy’ local bars reopened

Owners implement some new measures, strive to stay afloat

Betsy Scott, Kahului Ale House bartender and manager, serves drinks to patrons sitting between plexiglass partitions installed at the bar to mitigate risks of COVID-19. Scott said the owner’s work to make people feel comfortable and safe “is really quite impressive.” Maui County bars were allowed to reopen Monday and many operators said their customers were happy they did. The Maui News / KEHAULANI CERIZO photo

KAHULUI — Kahului resident Marjorie Mitzel said she wouldn’t have come to the Kahului Ale House on the first day it reopened if she didn’t feel safe.

“I feel comfortable here,” she said on Monday afternoon. “I’m 78 years old, and that to me is important, comfort and safety.”

Mitzel added that it’s “fantastic” to be out because she has been “homebound” amid the pandemic.

Maui County bars, including the Ale House, Hang Loose Lounge, Da Babooze Bar and others, reopened doors Monday with social distancing and capacity limits. Other bars, such as Wai Bar in Wailuku, remained closed Monday.

Bars and other nonessential businesses shut down back in March and have been among the last allowed to reopen. The county announced last week that bars could reopen as of Monday, so long as occupancy is no more than 50 percent of maximum capacity. Also, groupings of up to 10 people, with six feet of social distancing from other groups, must be designated through ropes or other means of physical separation.

Marjorie Mitzel, a Kahului resident, said she was happy to be back at the bar Monday afternoon after being cooped up at home amid the pandemic’s safer-at-home orders. Kahului Ale House, along with other Maui County bars, reopened Monday.

During the shutdown, Kahului Ale House spent about $7,000 to install movable, wood-framed plexiglass partitions along the bar that can be customized per party. Partitions also divide each booth.

“We wanted to make it safe for everyone,” Brad Sundin, Kahului Ale House owner, said Monday.

The owner also installed UV lights, which he said kills viruses, bacteria and mold.

However, Sundin said the location had to lose 45 to 50 seats in the COVID-19 renovation. He added that his business is not “completely feasible right now” and that he hopes Hawaii comes up with a plan to stabilize the economy, which is primarily reliant on tourism.

“If this goes into next year, this won’t be viable,” Sundin said.

Ale House owner Brad Sundin spent around $7,000 during the shutdown to install wood-lined plexiglass partitions for booths and the bar countertop as a safety measure against virus spread. The Maui News / KEHAULANI CERIZO photo

Hang Loose Lounge owner Brad McGrath on Monday said he’s confident his bar, one of Maui’s oldest dating back to 1981, will recover and make enough money to stay afloat. His patrons are mostly residents, he said.

“I’m fairly confident that we will at least break even,” McGrath said. “This place has always made money to pay everyone’s salary. I don’t expect to make money myself as an owner for a year or two or whatever. But that’s OK.”

McGrath is not a stranger to financial hardship. He lost his job as an Aloha Airlines aircraft mechanic and took over the bar in 2008 when the former owner couldn’t pay the rent.

Hang Loose Lounge reopened Monday with social distancing, signage, sanitization and separate tables. About 30 people, mostly regulars, were at the bar Monday afternoon.

“Everyone’s happy that we’re back,” McGrath said.

At South Shore Tiki Lounge — a bar, restaurant and nightclub which has been in business more than 10 years — owner Alma Tassi said reopening feels like starting all over again.

“It’s obviously been hard as so much is out of our control. We’ve tried to stay as positive as we can and act on what we can control,” Tassi said Monday. “Luckily, we built something pretty great once. We feel confident we can do it again.”

Overall, barkeepers interviewed said patrons were happy to return and the customer feedback was positive.

“It’s going really good,” said Bobbie Sedeno, Da Babooze Bar bartender. “People are just happy they can socialize again.”

Also, Maui County indoor and outdoor gathering limits were expanded and certain outdoor sports were restarted Monday. The county said all of its pools were to be reopened as of Monday, with the exception of Kokua Pool, which remains under repair.

Facilities and businesses that will remain closed for now include nightclubs, theaters, public gathering venues, banquet halls and county gymnasiums, county officials said.

* Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
     
Support Local Journalism on Maui

Only $99/year

Subscribe Today