Citing Coronavirus, Bar Lays Off 91 Workers

MILWAUKEE, WI — Area restaurants and bars are bearing the brunt of new state-imposed social distancing limits as a result of the new coronavirus public health emergency.

This week, the Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant located at 1122 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. across the way from the Fiserv Forum in Downtown Milwaukee, announced they are laying off 91 employees.

"The company will be carrying out a mass layoff regarding its employees working at this location. The layoff is expected to be permanent. The layoff results from the unexpected and unforseen business circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disaster," Claire Zank of Punch Bowl Social wrote this week.

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Among the permanent layoffs are 24 servers, 14 bartenders, a total of 15 cooks and seven hosts.

A notice posted on the restaurant's website said they closed on March 16, and will be closed until further notice.

"We are taking this action in accordance with local, state and federal recommendations to ensure the health of our guests, staff community and country," restaurant owners wrote. "Stay safe. We'll get through this together.

Brookfield Bar Owner Aimed To "Speak Out"

A Brookfield saloon owner says he may have "taken things too far," but had to speak out for business owners everywhere, after he kept his bar open on St. Patrick's Day after Gov. Tony Evers ordered all dine-in bars and restaurants closed by 5 p.m. Tuesday over coronavirus transmission concerns.

According to a FOX 6 report, Saloon on Calhoun owner Dave Dayler opened his bar at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and tried keeping it open after the 5 p.m. Along with the ordered restaurant and bar closures, Evers limited public gatherings to no more than 10 people. According to the report, Brookfield police showed up that night, and Dayler agreed to close the place down for the night.

Dayler said because of the ban, he's already had to lay off a total of 58 employees, who are now out of work. He went on to say that he has about two weeks before the economic pressures brought on because of the ban will force his establishment to close for good.