'It wasn't a tough decision: either we had to open, or we would have probably ended up closing,' Jacobs said.
But for Mike Jacobs, co-owner of The Rock in Phoenix, it was time. Other gay bars made similar decisions, postponing indefinitely. 'We would have probably ended up closing' 'I think that there are still many concerns that with the numbers skyrocketing in Arizona and other states that have opened too soon, we need to wait,' Louis wrote on Instagram. Stacy's originally planned to reopen on Monday, but announced that due to concerns about coronavirus, the bar would remain closed for now. Now, a handful are reopening, feeling there's no financial alternative, but with social distancing guidelines in place. However, as coronavirus cases rose in Arizona, the date kept getting pushed back. At first, the bar owners hoped to coordinate opening their businesses around the same time. They swapped ideas and information, and worked on a plan. The owners of seventeen gay bars in Phoenix were looped in on the group text, Louis said. Louis, owner of Stacy's Melrose, wanted to check in with other gay bar owners during the coronavirus closures. A few weeks ago, Stacy Louis turned to what is always a source of strength during trying times: a good group text.
