FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD) - While The Basement Bar heeded Fort Worth Code Compliance's orders and remained shut down, one of its neighbors reopened -- and is paying the price as a result.
On Friday night, the Thirsty Armadillo in the Fort Worth Stockyards opened for business, serving drinks and some food items to customers on the sidewalk in front of the establishment.
No customers were allowed inside.
Fort Worth Code Compliance tells KRLD that none of that mattered; the fact that it is identified as a bar on its certificate of occupancy meant that it's not allowed to reopen in any manner until Gov. Abbott says it's okay to do so.
According to Abbott's executive order, while restaurants are allowed to open while staying under 25% capacity, bars were required to remain closed.
If an establishment's alcohol sales constitute at least 51% of its business, it is identified as a bar on its certificate of occupancy, and a 51% sign is posted on its front door identifying it as such.
With a crowd gathered outside the Thirsty Armadillo Friday night, Code Compliance arrived and shut the business down and took no further action.
However, the very next night, the Thirsty Armadillo reopened the same way; and again, Code Compliance showed up and shut it down.
This time, it issued the bar a citation with a fine of up to $2,000.
Code Compliance says any establishment that has any questions about any special rules in place should contact the governor's office for a clarification.