JR’s Bar & The Round-Up Saloon to Reopen June 1st

It’s been quite awhile since we even imagined going to a bar or dance club due to the Coronavirus pandemic but now we have confirmation that a few bars will be opening as soon as this Monday.

Caven Enterprises and The Round-Up Saloon took to Facebook to announce they would be opening on Monday, June 1st. This comes with a new rainbow crosswalk that was highly anticipated.

Several LGBT nightclubs in Dallas will remain closed this weekend, despite GOP Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to allow bars in Texas to reopen beginning last Friday.

The majority of clubs on the Cedar Springs strip — Dallas’ main LGBT entertainment district — will not be opening completely right away, with owners saying they believe it is still unsafe.

Club Dallas, a gay bathhouse, reopened May 25, with temperature checks at the door and masks required in some areas. Club Dallas’ locker rooms, showers and “play spaces” will remain closed, but private dressing rooms will be available for rent.

“Social distancing must be maintained in all areas,” Club Dallas wrote on Facebook, in an announcement that has apparently since been removed.

The Tin Room also has announced they will be open as of last week.

The Round-Up Saloon made a long post on Facebook to speak of re-opening:Monday, June 1st – that’s the day we’re going to cautiously reopen the Round-Up Saloon.
We didn’t come to this decision lightly or without a great deal of planning and thought and deliberation. We know the virus is still out there and that being infected with the virus is still a risk. But the plain and simple truth is there is no “best time” to reopen. Scientists and experts are saying that this virus is here to stay for a long while and that we’ll be unwilling dance partners with it for well into next year. We’re going to have to learn to dance with this virus without getting society’s toes stepped on.
So with that determined and optimistic attitude, we’re going to cautiously wade into the water and see how we can keep you and our staff as safe as possible, while at the same time providing you a country-western bar experience that only the Round-Up can offer and that you’ve come to love.
The state of Texas has set out some pretty strict guidelines about how bars can operate in this new world. And it is the Round-Up’s intentions to abide by every one of those guidelines to the maximum extent possible.

The Round-Up went on to say:

With that in mind, the Round-Up isn’t going to look like what you’re used to. For one thing, you won’t be seeing our bright and shining faces, as we are requiring our staff to wear masks at all times. If YOU want to wear a mask to the Round-Up, we highly encourage this and you will not be alone. We’ll be smiling at you from behind our masks.
We will be asking each employee a standard slate of questions when they arrive for work to gauge their health status. We’ll be checking the temperature of each staff member as well. An employee who shows up ill or with a fever will be sent home.
We’ll be asking you some simple questions when you walk in our door to see how you’re feeling. Please know that if you walk through the door with a hacking cough or complaining of a fever, we’re going to wish you on your way and deny you entry.
We’re operating under a restriction of 25% capacity. For the foreseeable future, we’re going to be requesting that all patrons in the inside bar area remain seated at tables in groups not larger than six and that your groups stay at least six feet away from each other. We’re going to ask that you use hand sanitizer often. You’ll notice that you’re going to be ordering your drink from marked regions at each station so as to protect the bartender and the bar prep area, including each station’s ice bin. We request that you use a credit or debit card to pay so that our bartenders can minimize the handling of cash and coins. And we’ll be serving your cocktails in disposable glassware (that we hope you will throw away yourself when empty to keep our staff from having to handle potentially contaminated glassware).
Dancing is a special challenge. By its very nature, it’s an “up close and personal” activity. It’s what makes it so popular! But “up close and personal” in the Coronavirus Era is also – frankly – just plain risky. While we are not at this time demanding or enforcing a “Masks Required” policy, we certainly hope you’ll especially consider wearing one while dancing.
It should go without saying that if you’re having or have had symptoms related to Coronavirus infection in the past seven days, you please stay home; you can get your drink on next week!
Please be aware that where guest behavior runs afoul of these guidelines, we will act accordingly.
In short, this is going to require a team effort – ours and yours. And in reality, this is ONLY going to work if we ALL give it our best effort. Together, we can rise to the occasion as we cautiously and safely take these steps forward. We ask for your patience and your cooperation – as well as your comments and suggestions.
Welcome back to the Round-Up Saloon! We’ve missed the hell out of you guys and can’t wait to see you again!
The Round-Up Management & Staff

Coronavirus Closed Some LGBT-Friendly Bars for Good

Meanwhile, one longstanding gay bar in Dallas — Zippers — announced it is closing permanently as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

“To all our amazing customers, we are beyond sorry to say that our landlord here at Zippers does not want to work with us on the rent for being forced to close,” Zippers wrote on Facebook. “We are all heart broke over this. Thank you all so much for all the love you have shown us over the years. We will miss you all.”

The world-famous Lizard Lounge also closed it’s legendary doors for good during the pandemic and will be turned into an elite condo building.