Owner Kevin Myers was happy to reopen his bar to customers Friday morning at 12:01 a.m. Not a huge crowd, but some old regulars stopped by to support one of their favorite watering holes and local business owner.
Liberty Street in Franklin still looked like a ghost town as Thursday night rolled to a close. Only a few cars dashed in and out of the Sheetz parking lot, virtually not a soul out walking. Around 11:57 p.m., a small group of masked people started congregating, mostly six-feet apart outside of FoxTales Pub and Restaurant. Owner Kevin Myers hadn't really advertised it much, but he decided he would open up his bar as soon as the governor's switch from yellow phase to green went into effect.
"We figured why not, he said at 12:01 right?" Myers said.
On his personal Facebook page he mentioned he was going to open at midnight and people rallied to support his decision.
The county was tired of staying at home.
"We figured why not, he said at 12:01 right?" Myers said.
On his personal Facebook page he mentioned he was going to open at midnight and people rallied to support his decision.
The county was tired of staying at home.
Ryan Williams commemorates his first bar beer in over two months with a photo.
One of the first inside the door was Ryan Williams who ponied up to the bar, ordered a Blue Moon and took a moment to savor it all before he even took a swig. He marked the occasion with a photo of the first bar beer he's had since he helped close down the Purple Goose in March.
Williams said he would probably hit a few others on the other end of Friday to "spread the love around."
Just over a dozen people showed up for the two hours Myers was allowed to be opened Friday morning, but there were celebratory toasts and face-to-face conversations that haven't happened from a bar stool in over two months.
Williams said he would probably hit a few others on the other end of Friday to "spread the love around."
Just over a dozen people showed up for the two hours Myers was allowed to be opened Friday morning, but there were celebratory toasts and face-to-face conversations that haven't happened from a bar stool in over two months.
Myers has signage all around the bar explaining the rules of social distancing and safe practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Myers said the community has been incredible during the shutdown. He admits he wasn't making the money he can when the bar is operational, but his food sales were up over 30 percent thanks to people taking advantage of his takeout offerings. He is excited to be able to open up again even though the protocols at the moment will only allow him to have 42 total in the bar, including his staff. The back patio will be able to accommodate up to 18. But they are open.
"It's been very quiet in this bar," Myers said.
"It's been very quiet in this bar," Myers said.
"Let's see if you've gotten any better at playing pool," Ryan Williams joked to Steve Burkhardt (left) as they christened the pool tablepost-COVID-19 shutdown Friday around 1 a.m. (Editor's note: They both appeared pretty rusty at first, especially with an annoying dude with a camera hovering over top of them.)
Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email richardsayerphotography@gmail.com.
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