‘The most expensive thing...is an empty table;’ Alcohol sale restrictions forces restaurant to cut hours

The two Archer’s Tavern locations in Montgomery County will reduce their hours on the weekends, citing lost revenue caused by Ohio’s new restrictions on alcohol sales after 10 p.m.

>>RELATED: Liquor control passes emergency rule to stop alcohol sales at restaurants, bars at 10 p.m.

Starting Friday, both of the restaurant’s locations in Centerville and Kettering will close at 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, a change from the usual midnight closures, restaurant representatives said in social media posts. The change in hours was necessary because of financial hardships caused by the state’s order banning sales on alcohol after 10 p.m., the spokesperson said.

The hour adjustments will continue until the order is lifted.

“The most expensive thing in a restaurant is an empty table,” the restaurant spokesperson said in the post.

“We are complying with Gov. DeWine’s ban on alcohol sales after 10 P.M., despite the fact that it is costing us money as well as all of our team members that benefit from tips off of alcohol sales and wages from the production of food consumed after 10 P.M.”

>>RELATED: 2 local bars cited for selling alcohol after 10 p.m., violating state health order

The restaurant had made additional investments in the restaurant and added breakfast in an attempt to make up for the lost revenue caused by limited indoor dining capacity and the alcohol sales order.

“Additionally, we are asking all of our guests to contact their local state representative and express your opposition to the continued ban on alcohol sales past 10 PM for those restaurants and bars in Ohio that have complied,” the restaurant spokesperson said in the post.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

>> Clark County bar owner cited for selling alcohol after 10 p.m. cutoff questions regulation

>> Judge rules order banning Ohio alcohol sales after 10 p.m. to remain in effect

The health order has been in effect since July 31, when the Ohio Liquor Control Commission passed an emergency measure that bans the sale of alcoholic beverages at restaurants and bars at 10 p.m. Patrons have until 11 p.m. to finish those drinks purchased at the “last call.”

Since the order, several local bars and restaurants have received citations for violating the order following investigations by the Ohio Investigative Unit.

Cox Media Group