As Kentucky starts to reopen May 22, not every Louisville restaurant plans to immediately follow suit

Gravely Brewing Co. is one of many local businesses that won’t reopen just yet, even as some restrictions will be restricted starting May 22. (Photo courtesy of Gravely Brewing Co.)

Fasten your seatbelts, Louisville. Restaurants and other businesses will be able to reopen tomorrow, Friday, May 22, with social distancing restriction. They’ve been closed other than carry-out and curbside service since March 16, but the state shutdown guidelines are being gradually lifted.

But not every business that falls into this category plans to reopen right away, mostly citing safety and health concerns amid a pandemic that still poses a threat.

One that plans to take a slower approach is Gravely Brewing, which announced it is on track to reopen June 3. Owner Nathaniel Gravely cited not only public health concerns but also unspecified “significant operational changes” at the brewery that presumably will increase public and employee safety at the brewery going forward.

Safety factors, he said, “would make opening our doors for the first time in months — which coincides with the holiday weekend and quarantine-free combination — an unwise decision.”

Another example is Clifton’s Hilltop Tavern, a popular neighborhood bar and eatery. The owners have been quiet on social media, but told a Facebook group of regulars more than a week ago that “at this point, we don't feel it's the right thing to do for our employees and customers’ safety and livelihoods.”

Just down the street at 2345 Frankfort Ave., El Mundo is taking an approach similar to Gravely’s, announcing, “We feel it is too soon to open our small dining room and patio.”

But that’s not all — prior to the shutdown, El Mundo had already begun work toward opening a second location in the Highlands, and the announcement said staff is “feverishly working” to get that location open for carry-out and curbside, which also will continue at the Clifton location.

El Mundo won’t open tomorrow, instead sticking with carryout business and readying its forthcoming Highlands location.

Also in the Highlands, Dragon King’s Daughter announced it will play it safe and continue relying on carry-out service for the foreseeable future, citing risks to customers and staff.

“At this time, we feel we need to be patient for a little longer,” the restaurant said on social media. “We are confident with our current pickup-only business model we can continue to be a safe reliable dining option for the community.”

Across the river in southern Indiana, shutdown restrictions on restaurants and bars already have been lifted. Lines to get into places like Cheddar’s in Clarksville say all that needs to be said about consumers’ desire to get out again, but not all establishments there have reopened. New Albanian Brewing Co. has delayed its opening, citing safety reasons, and in downtown New Albany, Pints & Union, with its tight bar and dining space, also has not reopened.

Pints & Union has been giving away free masks with carry-out orders while also organizing staff to help distribute groceries in the community during the mass closings. However, owner Joe Phillips told Hello Louisville the rush for businesses to get back open and for people to get back out in groups is a health concern and therefore is a key reason his business won’t fully reopen anytime soon.

“What they are showing me so far is they aren’t ready to be responsible and look out for others,” he said. “So I see them setting everyone back months, and so do a lot of others.”

He added, “We choose to continue carryout and see how things are in June.”

When Apocalypse Brew Works reopens on Friday, things won’t be so different than they were before the shutdown, co-owner Leah Dienes told us, noting that most of the brewery’s seating is outdoors anyway and beer has always been served in disposable cups. Taproom doors will be open so patrons can order beers, but there will be no taproom seating.

“In talking with our customers, I think it will be a gradual emergence and being spread out outside gives some folks a bit of comfort,” Dienes said. “I think folks just want to have a draft beer away from home!”

Circumstances like these seem to be a deciding factor in some cases. From the small spaces at Pints & Union and El Mundo to the primarily outdoor experience at Apocalypse, not every business is the same. That doesn’t mean they aren’t ready to get back to a reasonable “normal” — but only when the time is right.

“Trust me, as an owner of the business who has watched 75% of revenue evaporate over the last couple of months, I would love to capture the revenue associated with a holiday weekend reopening event,” Gravely said. “However, it is important to look at the entire picture and not just the almighty dollar when making a decision like this. Having a bit of our own “distance“ from the first wave of reopenings will allow us to further strengthen our preventative measures and focus on creating the same enjoyable customer experience all of our patrons expect.”