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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Inside Gainesville bars’ first weeks reopening

Bars reopening

A Silver Q employee wears masks and practices proper hygiene while behind the bar.

As businesses begin to reopen, some Gainesville residents may wish to raise a glass to freedom. However, not all bars are ready to welcome customers back.

Bars were allowed to reopen beginning June 5 with the expansion of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Plan for Florida’s Recovery now in Phase 2. However, Gainesville bars all have their own ways of reopening, and some may not be fully operational yet.

First Magnitude Brewing Company

Under tanks of fermenting beer, customers can once again enjoy locally brewed beverages at First Magnitude Brewing Company, located at 1220 SE Veitch St.

The brewery’s tap room, equipped with 26 beer taps, closed March 15 due to COVID-19, said Simon McClung, chief brand officer for the brewery. In its place, First Magnitude offered drive-thru services in the warehouse where customers purchased canned beer or refilled growlers.

While indoor seating isn’t available yet, patrons can come sit at open-air tables at the brewery, McClung said. Customers gathered for a soft opening of the beer garden located outside of First Magnitude May 21. Outdoor beer garden seating, with 20 tables under oak trees and umbrellas, officially began two days later.

“Staff are really enjoying seeing people back in our beer garden and getting to see the faces of the community that we've been missing,” McClung said. “Saying ‘Hi,’ to our regulars through car windows in the drive-thru just isn't the same.”

Sam Hasan, a UF alumnus, visited First Magnitude for the first time Wednesday. While he said the outdoor seating wasn’t the best option for rainy weather, he appreciated First Magnitude’s staff.

“This is all an experiment for everyone,” he said. “We're all learning together on how to co-mingle and have some level of socialization.”

He was only able to finish one American India Pale Ale before the rain came, but his visit was for more than drinks.

“It’s great getting to see a bunch of really old friends that all went to college together,” Hasan said.

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Madrina’s

Madrina’s, located on 9 West University Ave., hasn’t yet reopened its space for customers, said Owner T.J. Palmieri. However, he said his to-go business was an unexpected success.

To-go cocktails made up 60 percent of Madrina’s revenue during the state-required closure, he said. The bar suspended to-go sales last week to prepare for its July 17 in-person reopening.

Despite Gov. DeSantis’ executive order permitting the sale of to-go alcohol, the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, a state agency that regulates the sale of alcohol, told the Havana-inspired Madrina’s it couldn’t sell alcohol March 25, Palmieri said. After debate on social media, the agency reversed its decision and allowed Madrina’s to continue its sales the next day, in keeping with DeSantis’ order.

”If we hadn't been able to sell to-go cocktails, I don't know that we would have been able to reopen the doors,” he said.

Once open, the bar will have a “call-back system” where customers’ names are called by a bartender and they can come forward to the bar one-by-one to order without interacting with other groups, he said. Drink menus will be available via QR Code, and glasses will be double-washed.

Happy hour, previously between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., will be available to-go only, he said. The in-person bar will open at 6 p.m. Despite changes, Palmieri said he’s excited for his 10 staff members to be reunited and to return to work.

“The word family gets thrown around a lot, but it really was kind of like a little family reunion,” he said.

Danielle LaFerrier is a regular at Madrina’s.

“If I’m going out, chances are I’m going to Madrina’s,” the 30-year-old Gainesville resident said.

She said she picked up to-go cocktails from Madrina’s five times since the bar’s in-person closure, ordering some of the bar’s most popular drinks, such as the Guava the Hutt, the Hibiscus Margarita and the Matcha Pina Colada.

“Small businesses such as Madrina’s are unique to our area,” she said. “Being able to frequent places like Madrina’s is one of my favorite things about living in Gainesville, and I wouldn’t enjoy living here nearly as much without these little gems.”

Silver Q Billiards & Sports Bar

Silver Q Billiards & Sports Bar welcomed back customers wanting to play pool May 19, but customers couldn't order drinks from the bar. Silver Q was able to live up to its entire title on June 5 when its bar started serving again.

Despite changes, Owner Devan Ehrich said Silver Q has had steady business since reopening and is almost back to typical profit levels. As regulars returned to Silver Q, Ehrichs said the cleaning process changed.

Before COVID-19, customers would typically return the cue ball used to play pool at one of Silver Q’s 13 tables to a bartender after they finished playing, Ehrich said. Now, they’re asked to leave everything on the pool table to be sanitized.

The bar is open to 50 percent capacity, and all groups should stay 6 feet apart, Ehrich said. While each party can sit at the bar together, they must distance themselves from others.

“I’ll see people run in and hug each other, and I think ‘Oh man, 6 feet,’” he said.

With customers returning, Ehrich said he’s excited to see the many personalities of Silver Q patrons.

“We’ve always had a melting pot of customers, not just cliques and groups,” he said. “We have a little bit of everybody, and we love to keep it that way.”

Contact Avery at alotz@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @ajlotz8.

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