Several new restrictions took effect in Marion County Friday intended to curb the spread of the COVID-19, which recently surged.
Bars, nightclubs and live music venues are closed through at least August 12. That includes The Vogue in Broad Ripple, which had planned to host its first live concert in months Friday night. The venue's website said that event and several other upcoming concerts have been postponed or canceled.
Hal Yeagy, who owns the Slippery Noodle downtown, said Thursday's news "was a bit of a shock to us. Not totally unexpected, but a kick in the gut."
Yeagy recently announced his plans to reopen the restaurant/bar/live music venue August 6, with nightly bands performing outside, in his large adjacent parking lot with no dancing and all customers seated at tables with wait staff.
Yeagy could still open the restaurant, but with capacity limitations. Restaurant capacity is back to 50 percent, but he also knows what draws people to the Slippery Noodle is the live music.
"I'm disappointed. I wish they could get a firmer handle on things," he said.
The only thing he knows now, "I won't be reopening August 6 and we've not set a third opening date yet," he said, indicating it may not be until after Labor Day.
Restaurants must also close off bar seating and shut down between midnight and 5 a.m. Several restaurants in Fountain Square said that wasn't a problem. They had already set 10 or 11 p.m. as their closing time.
Stephanie Scruggs, general manager of Kuma's Corner, said she was rolling with the changes.
"It's not a hassle to us. It's what's keeping our guests and staff safe," Scruggs said, noting they eliminated all seating at the bar and reduced seating inside "to keep everybody distanced...We're really lucky to have an incredible customer base that's been supportive to us, so we just want to keep slinging cheeseburgers."
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Other changes taking effect Friday include reducing capacity at fitness clubs back to 25 percent. Doug Thornton with the Irsay Family YMCA said that's about what they've been operating at to make sure those working out have the space needed to properly social distance. He said the only change will probably be smaller class sizes.
All attractions are also back to 25 percent. That includes the Indianapolis Zoo and the Indianapolis Children's Museum. A spokesperson for the zoo said they never increased capacity. The only change now is limiting the number of people allowed inside buildings like the Oceans or the Orangutan Center.
The Children's Museum is also not having to make any big changes. Vice President of Operations Brian Statz said their capacity has been averaging about 38 percent.
"People have to be ready to go out of the house and we understand that," Statz said, noting all the precautions they've taken, which includes requiring visitors to make reservations ahead of time so the museum can manage attendance.
Cassidy Wolsieffer, who was at the museum with her family, said she didn't mind that at all. In fact, she liked "not having to wait in lines" to see exhibits and having more space for the kids to play.
