Pictured Above: Stephen Schrutt, owner of Park & Rec, The Avenue and No Vacancy stands behind the bar at Park & Rec. Schrutt was forced to shut down all three operations earlier this year after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Patrick Tobin | The Crow’s Nest
By Annalise Anderson
COVID-19 has taken an unprecedented toll on the U.S. economy and St. Petersburg is no exception. Local restaurants and bars have experienced a sharp decline in revenue and are facing new challenges as the city begins to reopen.
Consumers are saddled with a risky decision for the sake of a night out, as restaurant and bar employees endure the economic strain of COVID-19.
Just as college students are part of the downtown St. Petersburg economy, they also make up a large part of industry staff. According to a 2015 Georgetown University study, 70 to 80 percent of college students are active in the labor market.
Students are facing layoffs, shorter hours and potentially unsafe working conditions.
Emma Weiss, a USF St. Petersburg junior majoring in interdisciplinary social sciences, was laid off from her serving position shortly before the semester started.
“I think I could be comfortable going to a small restaurant and having a meal, but I am nowhere near comfortable going to any of the bars downtown – they are too packed for my comfort,” Weiss said in a Facebook comment to The Crow’s Nest.
USF St. Petersburg mass communications senior Aliah Farley chose to end her six-year career in the industry for the sake of her health and the safety of high-risk family members that she cares for.
“Given my circumstances, I did not feel comfortable working at all,” Farley said in an email to The Crow’s Nest. “Many places were not requiring any employees to get tested before coming into work. In fact, I know of some places that had staff members test positive and employees who were exposed were allowed to continue working without a test.
“Financially, it has been rough since COVID. I have been out of work since March with little to no assistance. I applied for emergency assistance through USF, the city, bartender associations and received nothing,” Farley said.
Mayor Rick Kriseman’s Restart St. Pete initiative attempts to relieve financial strain for local businesses by providing funding, grants and careful reopening guidelines. Still, restaurateurs remain reliant on customers filling seats and placing orders.
Community Cafe, a local LGBTQ+ hangout frequented by college students, was forced to suddenly relocate from its Central Avenue location and continues to rely on the support of its young customers at its temporary location.
“I’m taking this all really seriously,” said Community Cafe owner Mandy Keyes. “Obviously, it is a very dangerous situation. Even if younger people don’t get as sick, everyone’s got family members, coworkers or neighbors who might be more susceptible.”
Park & Rec, The Avenue and No Vacancy are popular local venues for college students 21-and-up. In June, owner Stephen Schrutt shut down the three operations after several employees tested positive for the virus. Doors reopened in August with strict safety measures in place.
“We are going to continue to provide a safe environment not only for our staff but for the guest,” Schrutt said. “I’m hopeful that things get back to normal soon. We’ve got to continue to keep our guard up though. We can’t think that we’re in the clear just yet … With [students] doing online classes, I hope that they still want to come support downtown businesses and their favorite spots.”
