More coronavirus casualties. Two more Lexington drink spots announce sad news
Two Lexington places to get drinks announced closures this week, and at least one is apparently permanent.
Many restaurants have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic, which has prompted Gov. Andy Beshear to place restrictions on how many patrons can be inside at a time.
Bars have been closed for almost two weeks in an attempt to halt a surge in COVID cases in Kentucky.
On Euclid Avenue, an establishment near the University of Kentucky campus announced it will be closing for good at the end of the month.
Best Friend Bar at 500 East Euclid Ave. posted on its Facebook page that the dive bar, also known for hosting chefs, including Samantha Fore’s Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, in its pop-up kitchen, will close Aug. 29.
“Well, best friends, as we reach six years of partyin (sic) with you, watching Jeopardy with you, and generally best friending with you, Best Friend Bar will be closing its doors on August 29. We say this a lot, but all of these great years we’ve had together are thanks to the overwhelming support and love from you, our community and family. We’ve celebrated birthdays, engagements, weddings, and births, commemorated lives lost and friends passed — we’ve had some of the best and worst nights of our lives at BFB, and we wouldn’t change a thing. You all truly made us Best Friend Bar. We will still be operating for carry out until closure, and hope you come in, grab some beers & shots, and tell us all the wonderful and terrible things you’ve done here. Love you always, best friends,” the bar posted.
Seth Brewer, who co-owns Best Friend Bar with Tim Small and Shayne Bates, said jokingly that they are closing “because the Cats are having such a bad season.”
Brewer said that the bar is coming up on the end of its lease and “we don’t have enough confidence in the immediate future to legally obligate ourselves to over $100,000 in rent payments. Being shut back down entirely, industry-wide, was demoralizing. We needed to keep baby-stepping forward in the adaptation to the COVID-era. Going back to square zero rattled our confidence in the future of the rebuilding effort. We don’t have the reserves to just hope for the best and ride it out — to do so would jeopardize our other businesses, and ourselves. It is a painful reality.”
So the bar will be open for a few more weeks of farewells, he said.
The decision comes as restaurants and bars across the country are struggling to reopen and stay afloat amid the uncertainty of the pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis it has created.
On Thursday, the Independent Restaurant Coalition, which is lobbying for $120 billion in direct aid to save the hospitality industry, released new survey data showing that only 66 percent of owners were confident they would be able to make it to October. Three-fourths have already taken on more than $50,000 in new debt just to hold on.
In Kentucky, many bars will be facing a hard choice as liquor licensing comes up for renewal. Brewer said that the license and other costs are at a fixed rate whether the bar is allowed 100 percent capacity or 25 percent.
Best Friend opened six years ago as a bar and music venue catering to UK students.
Several local chefs launched businesses from the kitchen that have gone on to become freestanding restaurants, including GirlsGirlsGirls Burritos and Kismet at The Burl Arcade.
Honnah-Lee Bubble Tea closed
Across town local specialty drink shop Honnah-Lee Bubble Tea has closed “indefinitely” after almost a decade in business.
Honnah-Lee Bubble Tea, located at 1983 Harrodsburg Rd., announced the news on its Facebook page.
Owner Deb Shambro posted the news Thursday.
“This is extremely hard for me to post but I have decided to close my business indefinitely beginning today August 5th. I am so very sad and apologize to my wonderful customers, many of whom I have grown quite fond of over the years,” Shambro said.
She left open the possibility that Honnah-Lee could reopen later, saying “any updates will be posted here and on my shop voicemail.”
Shambro could not be reached immediately for comment but said on the voicemail that Honnah-Lee would be closed “at least until the end of August.”
Honnah-Lee offered more than 30 flavors of “bubble” tea, which features balls of tapioca, jellies or popping boba in a flavored drink. The shop also served smoothies, juices, ice cream and other sweets.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 10:33 AM.
