The next phase of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's plan to reopen the economy begins Friday with bars, breweries and wine tasting rooms - all allowed to open at 25 percent capacity.
Restaurants can now expand to 50 percent capacity under the Governor's order.
"Our focus is to keep you safe while also restoring your ability to get back to work, to open your businesses, to pay your bills, to put food on your tables," Governor Greg Abbott said Monday when announcing the next phase. "Let's be clear: COVID-19 still exists in Texas. Our goal is to find ways to coexist with COVID-19 as safely as possible."
Bars and breweries are preparing now for how they can open safely and still turn a profit.
"We welcome the reopening, and we pledge to do it in a responsible way," says Brad Mall, co-owner of Oak Highlands Brewery in Northeast Dallas.
Mall says his sales have dropped 73 percent since he was forced to close, and "beer to go" sales have not made up the difference. He says he has lost $50,000 in private event bookings.
But Mall does say he has an advantage over smaller bars and breweries. Oak Highlands occupies a large warehouse near LBJ Freeway and Plano Road, so he can allow more customers.
"Our taproom, there's nothing special about it, but it's a big, open area," he says. "We'll have all of our tables six feet apart and up to 25 percent."
As more businesses begin to reopen, he says he expects customers excited to get out, but he also expects a lot of people to stay home, wary about a potential increase in cases.
"I think there's going to be a paradigm shift in the entertainment industry where folks are cautious for a long time just because of what they've gone through the last couple months," Mall says. "We hope it gets back to normal, but you've got to be nimble and adapt. I think beer-to-go is going to be a bigger thing for us."
Mall says he can turn a profit at 25 percent capacity, but he worries about smaller bars, tasting rooms and restaurants.
"It's kind of a top-down problem where there's a lack of revenue, but bills, payroll and everything else is still stacking up," he says. "I'm hoping people will go out and support their local businesses because they may not be around if they don't."