Billy Bob's Texas is getting ready to reopen, but it won't be business as usual for the iconic honky tonk.
The bar applied for a permit to operate as a restaurant so it can reopen under the state's coronavirus restrictions, the owners announced on Facebook. Under an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott, bars have been shut down but restaurants can operate at half capacity.
The bar-turned-restaurant has been closed since June to comply with the executive order. General Manager Marty Travis told the Dallas Morning News that the decision to become a restaurant was about keeping the business afloat.
“We’re all trying to survive,” Travis says. “Are we skirting the law a little bit? No, we’re working with the guidelines (Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission) put out there. Our restaurant just has a concert hall. And a dance floor. And a retail store.”
It'll also allow some of Billy Bob's 260 employees to start working again, WFAA reports.
Dubbed the "world's largest honky tonk," Billy Bob's has the space to properly social distance but owners are taking no chances. Travis told Fox 4 that it'll open at 20 percent capacity.
With a friendly reminder from George Strait to wash your hands and wear a face covering, Billy Bob's website has a long list of what it'll be doing to keep its customers safe. Customers will have their temperatures checked and must sanitize their hands when entering. The number of people on the dance floor will also be restricted.
Live music is also returning but with some tweaks. Only 1,200 tickets will be sold each day to allow for social distancing, and gathering in front of the stage is a no-no.
When the revamped Billy Bob's opens depends on when their restaurant permit is approved, but they expects to be up and running on Friday, August 14. The Bellamy Brothers are scheduled to take the stage that night.
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