bars

Reopening bars and restaurants around Boston are cheering for a deep playoff run from the Bruins to make back some lost revenue.

As Massachusetts reopens, will bars and restaurants be able to rebound quickly?

Massachusetts businesses can fully reopen without restrictions on Aug. 1, but some in the tourism industry say that’s too late in the summer to bounce back.

More than a year into the COVID-19 restrictions that have reshaped much of public life, Massachusetts now has a target date for when its business and capacity limits are set to be lifted: Aug. 1, 2021. That date could come earlier depending on key public health metrics around vaccination, hospitalizations and case counts, Gov. Charlie Baker said.

Massachusetts announced plans to ease COVID restrictions, including masks for people outside starting Friday. Stadiums will be able to host more people, bars can reopen for nearly regular service and more.

State officials are cracking down on violators of COVID safety rules this St. Patrick’s Day in Massachusetts — particularly for bars and restaurants in Boston. Officials with the Massachusetts Health Department and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission are on high alert for individual people and places that are breaking the rules. In addition to keeping the standard six feet of…

State officials are cracking down on COVID safety rules for St. Patrick’s Day this year.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that the state will relax coronavirus restrictions on restaurants starting Monday, increasing the number of people allowed per table from six to 10 and allowing establishments to use bar seating for food service.

Vermont is easing restrictions on schools effective Saturday, which includes permitting inter-scholastic competitions starting this weekend. “We wanted to give our student athletes an extra weekend for what has already been a shortened season,” Vermont Education Secretary Dan French said Tuesday. “This is particularly important for our students participating in activities that have short seasons to begin with.” Through a…

In a COVID-19 update, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced that starting Sunday, anyone coming from a state on Rhode Island’s quarantine list will be required to sign a compliance certificate that they either tested negative for COVID-19 or they plan to quarantine for 14 days.

Rhode Island is stepping up enforcement of rules for out-of-state travelers and ordering bars to close earlier due to an increase in new cases of the coronavirus, according to Gov. Gina Raimondo. Eleven percent of new cases stem from out-of-state travel, she said at a Wednesday news conference. Beginning Sunday, anyone coming from one of the 33 states on Rhode…

Ten restaurants and bars in Rhode Island have been issued COVID-19 related compliance orders, according to the state Department of Health. In inspections of the businesses, staff and patrons were allegedly observed not wearing masks, not practicing social distancing, and establishments were not screening patrons for symptoms of COVID-19, health officials said Wednesday. In addition, some establishments were not meeting…

Reaction is pouring in now that Massachusetts is officially allowing bars and restaurants to sell cocktails with takeout food orders. While business owners are thrilled, they say they need a lot more relief to survive.   Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill into law on Monday. It allows any restaurant or a bar with a liquor license to sell…

Up to two takeout cocktails per entree can now be sold in Massachusetts restaurants, and local owners said they hope it helps them turn a profit during the pandemic.

The beers are back and so are the patrons at The Tam Bar in Boston’s Theater District. “It is a big deal,” said bartender Lyn Grande. “You have to get the city back. We need people.” At first, it didn’t look like the Tam could open until Phase 4, which is when bars in Massachusetts will be given the...

Phase 4 isn’t scheduled to start until there is a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, leaving bars to take a different approach.

A Houston bar owner who believed he could no longer provide a safe environment for his staff, customers and himself felt he had no choice but to shut down his business

Many Black-owned bars and restaurants have been hit harder by the coronavirus pandemic, which disproportionately impacts people of color.

Looking to grab a drink at your favorite watering hole? Unless it provides seated food service, you’ll have to wait until Phase 4 after administration officials delayed the reopening timeline for bars. Bars were originally slated to open in Phase 3 of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s restart plan but were moved to Phase 4 after administration officials determined that if…

In another move to reopen Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott is allowing people to play low-contact recreational sports with restrictions as officials continue to watch an outbreak near Burlington. “I know how difficult this has been,” Scott said Friday. “Kids have been cooped up and away from their friends for months and it’s not so easy for adults, either.” Low-contact...