Minnesota Bar Owner Promises To Open His Establishments Even If Stay At Home Order Is Extended

A bar owner in Central Minnesota plans to open his 6 establishments on Monday no matter what Governor Walz decides on his stay at home order. According to WCCO-CBS.COM reported : "Kris Schiffer, who owns the Shady’s locations in Albany, Burtrum, Cold Spring, New Munich, Rice, and St. Martin, is planning to open his restaurants on Monday. Four of his restaurants are located in Stearns County, where there’s been a major outbreak of COVID-19, with more than 1,400 confirmed cases."

On his personal Facebook Page Schiffer encouraged other bar and restaurant owners to open on Monday as well saying we need to do this in large numbers. According to WJON in St .Cloud Schiffer has said that he has 168 employees who are all out of work and he can't survive on take out alone.

Minnesota's stay at home order is set to expire on Monday May 18 but Governor Walz is set to make an announcement tomorrow on whether he will stick with that date or extend it further. Many political insiders have said they have a feeling he will extend the stay at home order through June 2020.

Since the order went into effect in March all restaurants, bars, hair salons and more have been closed, with some modifications for take out orders of food, but many restaurants have stayed closed completely. I know many friends in the bar industry who are worried about their businesses opening to soon and being exposed. The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Minnesota continues to climb upward. As of today the state’s death toll has surpassed 600.