Valley restaurateur Paul Keeler – whose Keeler Hospitality Group operates Liberty Station and Market Street Kitchen in Scottsdale and Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse in Carefree – died Saturday due to complications of covid-19. He was 73.
COVID-19
All Arizona bars can resume ‘‘normal operations’’ under a new executive order signed by Gov. Doug Ducey today. The order lifts all previous covid-19 restrictions on businesses.
The order also rescinds a previous order allowing local governments to issue mask mandates.
Businesses still can require masks, social distancing, and other mitigation measures if they choose. In fact, Ducey’s latest order urges businesses ‘‘to continue adequate safety precautions.’’
Restaurants, as well as bars that serve food, were allowed to reopen at 100% capacity earlier this month. Now, bars that don’t serve food can join them.
Covid-19 cases in Arizona have continued to drop in recent weeks as more people have been vaccinated, but many public health experts are warning the premature dropping of all safety precautions likely will result in a new surge of the virus.
Gov. Doug Ducey has announced a loosening of Arizona’s covid-19 restrictions to allow restaurants and bars to immediately return to 100% occupancy.
The catch? They still must maintain at least 6 feet between tables for social distancing, require customers to wear masks when not eating or drinking, and continue in-depth cleaning procedures.
‘‘We need to continue practicing personal responsibility,’’ Ducey said in a statement. ‘‘Wear a mask. Social distance.’’
Some restaurants and bars already have announced they will voluntarily continue to operate with reduced occupancy or offer only takeout.
For many, it’s a moot point.
‘‘The reason we are at 50% capacity is because that is what it takes to social distance at 6ft apart?!?!’’ Jolie’s Place in Chandler posted on social media. ‘‘So if you raise the capacity to 100%, yet keep the social distancing, no standing, no mingling in place, where is the change?’’
Ducey’s order also applies to gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and water parks.
After closing for nearly a year due to the covid-19 pandemic, El Sol Mexican Cafe & Bakery near the southwest corner of Arizona and Ray in Chandler reopens its dining room today.
Limited seating – with a maximum of four people per table – will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Well-known for its delicious breakfast burritos, the cafe also offers tacos, tortas, enchiladas, and more.
El Sol is open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Closed Sundays.
Is Flix Brewhouse in downtown Chandler closed for good? It depends who you ask.
After closing in March 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, the brewpub-cinema concept reopened in August, as did rival Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and most traditional movie theaters.
Just over a month later, however, Flix closed again, citing the ongoing pandemic. (Alamo has remained open, although the owner of the three East Valley locations has filed for bankruptcy protection.)
Now, Google lists the 2-year-old Flix as ‘‘permanently closed,’’ and several MXSW readers have noticed the space is listed as available for sale or lease online.
But when MXSW reached out to the Texas-based chain, director of operations David Meillier denied the closure is permanent.
‘‘Google does not have the correct information,’’ he says. ‘‘We are temporarily closed. Unfortunately we have not yet set a date to reopen our Chandler location.’’
Bella Gusto Urban Pizzeria in Chandler is mourning the loss of Juan Paz, a four-year employee who passed away Monday from covid-19.
‘‘He was a humble soul who did everything with immense pride and crazy work ethic,’’ pizzeria co-owner John Araujo says.
Araujo has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Paz’s family.
Gov. Doug Ducey announced another $1 million has been added to the state’s Safest Outside Restaurant Assistance Program, which gives locally owned restaurants and bars with fewer than 50 employees up to $10,000 to expand outdoor seating temporarily during the covid-19 pandemic.
The program launched Dec. 2 with an initial investment of $1 million; another $2 million was added Jan. 5.
A group of Tucson restaurants and bars has won a preliminary injunction overturning a 10 p.m. curfew enacted by Pima County on Dec. 15 to slow the spread of covid-19.
A Superior Court judge ruled the curfew violated a Gov. Doug Ducey executive order prohibiting counties and cities from issuing such restrictive rules.
The businesses that filed the suit, however, were ordered to pay $10,000 to the county for court costs.
Arizona Cocktail Weekend, set to celebrate its 10-year anniversary next month, has been canceled for 2021 by the covid-19 pandemic.
Instead, organizers are planning a smaller, one-day event Sept. 25, the details of which are still being worked out.
Next year’s Arizona Cocktail Weekend will take place Feb. 26-28, 2022.
