Atlanta restaurants reopening during pandemic face new business challenge: curfew

ATLANTA — Atlanta restaurants will have even less time to make money tonight after the city announced it’s bumping the curfew to 8 p.m.

Restaurants were beginning to operate again after months of being closed because of coronavirus concerns.

Workers say the curfew is adding an added strain because it means less hours to serve.

Channel 2 Action News spoke with staff at J.R. Crickets in downtown Atlanta.

“Now is very limited cause we have to close at 9 p.m., and 9 is when we are really just getting started,” said bartender Taylor Glaemon.

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They say after 11 p.m. is really when they get their largest crowd.

“When we expect our clients to come at a certain time, we can’t now because they’re forced to come earlier,” Glaemon said.

Even though they’ve had their challenges, J.R. Crickets’ restaurant staff say they’re doing really well with their take-out orders and they hope the curfew ends soon.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms takes to the street with protesters Addressing the crowds first from a microphone and then from a bullhorn, she assured dozens of protesters in downtown Atlanta that they were heard.

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