CLEVELAND — It's been a struggle for Cleveland restaurants and bars to keep their doors open amid the COVID-19 pandemic; some places operated on a part-time basis, others were forced to close.
That's why, when local owners heard of a way they might be able to make some money during the NBA All-Star Game, most were "all in." That is until they received some shocking news.
On Monday, Mayor Justin Bibb and City of Cleveland officials announced that they had approved just seven of the 87 submitted extended hours waivers for businesses looking to serve alcohol after the typically-approved time during the NBA All-Star Game Weekend. All seven approved businesses are hotels, which include:
- InterContinental
- Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic
- Hilton downtown
- Hotel Indigo
- Metropolitan at the 9
- Westin downtown
- Betts at Kimpton Schofield Hotel
Johnny Hutton, owner of Zanzibar in downtown Cleveland, said he was surprised that a license to extend his hours was denied.
"I think it caught me off guard a little bit. I didn't think there would be any push back on this," Hutton said. “For those three or four days of everyone visiting the city, it could be a significant uptick in revenue.”
David Gilbert, co-chair, Local Organizing Committee for the NBA All-Star Weekend released the following statement to 3News regarding the decision to only recommend hotels for the special approval:
"The past two years have affected the hospitality industry in a way that no one could imagine. Some of our beloved restaurants and bars didn’t make it. We absolutely understand why bar and restaurant owners who won’t be able to extend their hours are upset by the City’s recommendation to the State of Ohio Division of Liquor Control. The mayor’s team understood the restaurant owners’ desire and need for potential additional income; however, they also needed to address public safety needs throughout the city. Their approach (of recommending only the seven hotels that applied for the extension waiver) seemed reasonable when it became clear that all applying bars and restaurants couldn’t be accommodated within the city’s safety plan. They found a solution that balances public safety needs with the desire to accommodate the needs of visitors."
3News' Lydia Esparra came face to face with Mayor Bibb at a Cleveland City Council meeting Monday night and was able to ask the mayor for comment on the matter. Mayor Bibb told her that she would need to speak with his press secretary on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Hutton said that he was excited about the All-Star Game and visitors patronizing his business, a shocking 180-degree answer from the one he expected.
“I’m very disappointed by it."
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