‘Stop the bleeding.’ Tri-Cities restaurants fearful as customers reject wearing masks

Tri-Cities restaurants are finding themselves on the front lines of a battle against face masks.

Starting Friday, everyone in Washington state is required to wear face coverings in public because of a growing number of COVID-19 cases statewide.

And since June 8, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries required nearly all workers to wear masks to protect co-workers and the public.

While many Tri-Cities restaurants have found creative ways to stay open for takeout and delivery since the pandemic shutdown, Benton and Franklin counties remain in Phase 1 and are banned from inside or seated dining.

Some owners who are complying with the law say they’re struggling to deal with customers upset by the requirements.

“You hear customers say that, ‘We’ve missed you guys. Then in the next breath, they are talking about how they will never wear a mask when they are standing right next to us — it kind of hurts,” Sage Brewing Company owner Tyson Crudup told the Herald.

Just hours before Gov. Jay Inslee announced the statewide requirement, the Pasco business owner already was considering requiring take-out order customers to wear masks.

“When people do pickup at Sage, we are following all the guidelines but it is one that is frustrating — that they are not returning the effort,” Crudup said. “I’m putting my employees at risk but it doesn’t seem to resonate with folks.”

As a businesses owner, he wants to do whatever he can to ‘stop the bleeding’ and hopes the public will comply and help out to stop the spread of the virus.

Kendra Sadler, who owns Tri-Cities Tap & Barrel in Richland along with her husband Jason, says that from the beginning the business has wanted to make sure they are doing the right thing about wearing masks.

They believe they are helping to keep everyone safe and healthy. But she struggles with other eateries feeling its their right to stay open — and Tap & Barrel can’t compete with that.

“I’m getting phone calls with customers upset about other places opening and why we can’t,” Sadler said.

Under emergency rules enacted at the end of May, the labor department can fine businesses up to $10,000 or they can be forced to close for unsafe work conditions.

“We’ve been able to make it through but I can see how some people can’t and open up,” Crudup said. “Being in the industry that we are — we don’t have the luxury to risk our liquor license. That is our lives — we can’t risk it.”

He said the brewery initially shut down temporarily but has reopened with hours scaled back to five hours a day on three days a week. He said he has bare-bones staffing, with hours down 75 percent.

Help for businesses

The Tri-Cities Open & Safe Coalition, a newly formed collaborative effort, is helping businesses like Sage Brewing and Tri-Cities Tap & Barrel, by providing guidelines, tips and more on tricityregionalchamber.com

The coalition also is giving away masks, gloves and hand sanitizer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 25-26 at the Visit Tri-Cities office to businesses who sign a Tri-Cities Open & Safe Pledge.

The pledge is effort to recognize Tri-City businesses who publicly commit to following the coronavirus restrictions and regulations under Washington’s Safe Start plan.

Sage Brewing was among the first to sign up. Businesses who sign the pledge will be listed online. Some on the list so far include Atomic Ale Brew Pub, Clover Island Inn, Hamilton Cellars, Moon Security, Sleeping Dog Wines, Terra Blanca Winery and the Ladybug Shoppe.

While a Paycheck Protection Program loan helped the Sadlers to keep their restaurant and tap room operating this long, Kendra Sadler said that the money will soon run out if the county isn’t able to move into Phase 2 soon.

“It is becoming a lot more stressful and a lot more scary,” she said. “We will get to the point of laying off employees and doing it all by ourselves or close.”

“It sad because you work so hard,” she said. “Tri-Cities hasn’t done a good job at taking it seriously.”

State emergency rules

Under emergency rules enacted at the end of May, the labor department can fine businesses up to $10,000 or they can be forced to close for unsafe work conditions.

“We’re all in this together, and most businesses are doing the right thing for our state and our communities. Unfortunately, there are some that are choosing not to,” Joel Sacks, state L&I director, said at the time of the announcement. “The coronavirus is a known workplace hazard and businesses must follow the requirements to keep their workers and the public safe.”

The order says most employees must wear a face covering with a few exceptions — such as working alone in an office.

The order for the public says masks are required when in public and indoors, including at grocery and hardware stores or in health clinics. They also are required outside if you can’t stay 6 feet away from other people at all times.

There are exceptions to the face covering rule including children younger than 2 and those with certain disabilities, respiratory conditions or have been told not to wear a mask by a behavioral health, medical or legal professional.

“This is about saving lives. It’s about reopening our businesses. And it’s about showing respect and care for one another,” Inslee wrote on Twitter.

This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 12:53 PM.