ST. LOUIS — It's by far the longest closure related to the COVID-19 pandemic. St. Louis health officials ordered popular downtown bars Wheelhouse and Start Bar to shut down for one year for violating area health orders.
“Just when you come up to the building, huge lines outside, people shoulder to shoulder. You’re trying to actually walk on the sidewalk, you can't, unless you want to be around a massive crowd of people," said one downtown resident.
Health officials issued the shut down order Tuesday with an end date of Jan. 19, 2022. According to the letter, the businesses violated the city’s orders requiring social distancing and face coverings.
“If it’s a weekend when they’re open, you can't even use the front of the building. No mask, people acting a fool, not acting like we're in a pandemic, and we shouldn’t be spreading our germs,” said the resident who wished to remain anonymous. “The behaviors that got them shut down this time are behaviors that are happening pretty much every time they’re open, but people are afraid to speak out.”
In the city’s letter addressed to owner Jared Ater, the city's acting health director Dr. Fredrick Echols went into detail. The department provided pictures of crowds inside the bars and complaints from residents.
You can see the full order from the city, with photos included, below:
One screenshot advised people in attendance to get tested for COVID-19 – saying they knew three women who were there all night who tested positive for the virus.
“Just to see just a total disregard for any safety, it's kind of mind-blowing. These aren’t hard things to do; it's super simple. Why is it so hard?,” asked the resident.
5 On Your Side contacted the bars' lawyer for comment, but he denied to speak on the matter.
Friday morning, the owners shared a message on their Instagram pages for Wheelhouse, Start Bar and The Midwestern, which also is part of the same restaurant group. They said they appreciate the support they've received from the community and that they "need it now more than ever."
Message from Wheelhouse, Start Bar and The Midwestern:
"To our CUSTOMERS:
"The City of St. Louis has issued The Wheelhouse and Start bar a one year business closure for refusing to treat you like children.
"Since April of 2013 we have purposely created spaces for you to live your life as you choose. We have been respecting your rights as customers and sovereign individuals capable of making your own decisions.
"Starting in May of 2020, we were ordered to be the mask police and micro manage your social interactions. We believe you all are free to make your own decisions."
The owners asked supporters to sign their online petition and urged them to reach out to Mayor Lyda Krewson's office.
This is not the first time the two bars have been ordered to shut down.
“All these customers are coming down here voluntarily and all our employees are coming to work voluntarily, so at some point I think we need to let people evaluate their own risk and start living their lives again,” said Ater, one of the owners when they were given the order over the summer to shut down.
Republican Missouri State Representative Nick Schroer — who represents part of St. Charles County — sent a letter to acting city health director Dr. Echols Thursday.
It requests that he appear before a special committee next Tuesday to explain how the city plans to compensate for the loss of business and tax revenue.