Doors closed for nearly 6 months, bar owners ‘numb’ after excluded from Phase 2.5

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — As the six month mark of shutdown approaches, the announcement of the state moving to Phase 2.5 left bar owners disappointed yet again.

Kurt and Katherine Pryor, owners of The Palm Room in Wrightsville Beach, say they’re almost numb as Governor Roy Cooper continues to keep bars closed as restaurants and other businesses are allowed to open.

“I’m not trying to do anything different than anybody else, we’ll adhere to the same guidelines but we’re not even given that opportunity,” Katherine Pryor said. “We’re just closed.”

“We never thought we’d be open Memorial Day, but we never thought we’d be closed on the fourth of July and Labor Day,” Kurt Pryor said.

The two say their landlord has worked with them, but they still have to pay bills to keep the lights on.

They sell merchandise through social media and to-go beers through their window on the weekends. Recently, Kurt had to take a second job to make ends meet, while Katherine stays home to teach their two young children.

“It’s frustrating because it’s not like I can go get another job because somebody has to teach the kids, but we also don’t get any money from Cooper or anyone else either to help so it’s frustrating,” she said. “I just don’t know when it’s going to end.”

Down the street from The Palm Room, Jimmy’s has created additional streams of income as well.

In addition to merchandise sales, Jimmy and Keaton Gilleece have started an e-bike rental business.

“You know what it’s like to drive and park on Wrightsville Beach, so hop on a bike and roll, not have to worry about the parking or the price and all that,” Jimmy Gilleece said.

On Sunday, they launched a mobile bar business that Gilleece says he’s wanted to do for awhile.

“This is the only good thing that’s come of the COVID shutdown,” he said. “It kind of forced me to do things I’ve always wanted to do but didn’t.”

Gilleece says most places are allowed to open or have been open, so the continued shutdown feels like a slap in the face.

“I really think that, at this point, [Governor Cooper] likes to portray or give the appearance that he’s taking drastic measures to prevent this, when it actuality he’s not,” Gilleece said. “He’s just cutting off 15% of one industry and ignoring them, not even acknowledging them at that.”

He says he wishes bar owners could prove they could operate safely, just like other businesses.

“I”m not opposed to be closed if we’re a part of the problem, but you can’t close 15% and leave 85% open,” Gilleece said. “I’m happy for my neighbors, but they’re having record-breaking years right now. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

Even if it’s at half capacity, Gilleece says he is holding out hope bars will be permitted to open when Phase 2.5 expires in October.