Deadline extended for bars, restaurants to receive state financial help

The deadline for bars and restaurants to apply for financial aid has been extended, but one local business owner said its nowhere near enough to help.

The deadline for on-premises liquor permit holders to apply for a $2,500 grant has been extended. According to Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, more than $4,000 liquor holders are still eligible to apply.

Dan Apolito, who owns Archer’s Tavern, said, “Frankly I was shocked that not every on-premise liquor hold hasn’t applied. It’s free money. Anyone who applies who is eligible does receive the money.”

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Apolito already got his grant and while he’s thankful for the help, he said it doesn’t make up for the lost revenue.

“What’s really hurting bar and restaurants is the curfew. I’m losing double $2,500. Close to $5K a week just in lost revenue because of the 10pm curfew.”

Apolito also said he has seen a drop in customers from 8:30pm on. And, while he continuously looks forward to when the curfew ends, it seems like it never will.

He said, “when it was first introduced, it was 21 days and then it was extended through the holidays so it took away the day before Thanksgiving, all the holiday parties. Now, he’s extended it again and I just don’t understand it. We’re going to lose out on the Ohio State championship.”

With Ohio State set to play in the College Football National Championship in just a few days, he worries not only about lost revenue for his workers, but how the curfew could cause people to be less cautious while celebrating.

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Apolito said, “People are staying home in their basements with friends and family, not wearing masks, not social distancing, so in my opinion, bars and restaurants are one of the safest places for things like this.”

The curfew as it stands now, is set to end of January 23, which means restaurants could make up for some of the lost revenue when the Super Bowl takes place in February. Until then, Apolito said he encourages any on-premise liquor license holder to apply for the grant.

He said, “You just fill out the application online. Took me less than 5 minutes and we received our check in less than two weeks.”

For any bar or restaurant owner who has not applied yet for the $2,500 grant, the deadline was extended to January 31.

Cox Media Group