PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - On Sunday, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced that due to the sudden and sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the county, bars are ordered to close and restaurants would no longer be able to serve alcohol as of Thursday afternoon.
Some restaurant owners are wondering if they can survive the ban on dine-in alcohol service in the County.
Glenn Hawley, who owns upscale restaurants "Off the Hook" and "Napa Prime" in Warrendale told KDKA Radio's Marty Griffin that it's not fair the county won't enforce its own social distancing and mask requirements.
"Allegheny County government has chosen not to enforce the Pennsylvania governor's rule or law. So in essence, by not directly addressing the obvious bar and restaurant violators of Governor Wolf's rule or law - whatever you want to call it - Allegheny County has instead given me the exact same penalty as the violators."
Hawley said if its crowded bars that are causing the problem then its crowded bars that should be shut down. Many restaurants fear customers will decide to stay home if they can't have wine or beer with their meal.