Restaurants and bars coping with riot aftermath, apprehensive about curfew

On Monday night, restaurants and bars reacted apprehensively on social media to the mayor's announcement that a 10 p.m. curfew would be imposed for one week, beginning Tuesday night.

On Tuesday morning, this message appeared on the Twitter account of B&O American Brasserie: "Does this curfew mean that we need to close early to get our staff home without incident before 10 p.m.?"

Liam Flynn, owner of Liam Flynn's Ale House on North Avenue in Charles North, wants Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to amend the city-wide 10 p.m. curfew for citizens older than 21. Monday through Saturday, the bar — like many in the city — is usually open until 2 a.m.

"Have the National Guard on the street, but don't shut down our businesses," Flynn said. "The media blowout has everyone freaked out except for people who live in the city and know what the turf is like and what's actually happening in the street."

On Tuesday, Flynn, a board member of the Midtown Community Benefits District, posted a letter to the mayor about the curfew on the website change.org. He originally posted it earlier this morning on his personal Facebook page.

A portion of the letter reads, "With a curfew, you will do more damage financially to our bars & restaurants than rioters will do. In this month, we have to deal [with] taxes, license renewals, annual inspections, insurance renewals, and more. Now you are cutting businesses['] and employees['] ability to recover."

Flynn said a person online reacted to the post by implying the owner was being insensitive to the city's current situation. Flynn said he is worried for his employees.

"Yes, I care about money for my employees and neighborhood," he said. "A week with no business is going to crush us."

Restaurant owner Bryan Voltaggio felt encouraged by the clean-up efforts Tuesday.

"Seeing residents out, cleaning up their own streets, made us feel like we had to get to work," Voltaggio said. "It's good to see. That's what I know Maryland to be; that's what I know Baltimore to be. Today, to open up was our message."

Voltaggio said he watched Monday's unfolding events from his hometown of Frederick. He decided to close his Inner Harbor restaurant Family Meal at 3 p.m.

"We were unsure about what was happening," Voltaggio said. "We need to make sure that residents and people coming into our city can go out without feeling unsafe."

But the presence of National Guard troops on Pratt Street made him feel that opening Family Meal was prudent.

Voltaggio said his biggest immediate concern was how the week-long curfew would affect business at his other Baltimore restaurant, Aggio, which is open for dinner only Wednesday through Sunday.

"I'm really worried about what it's going to do for business this week," he said. "And not just my business, but how it will affect servers who are relying on tips. It makes it a little bit worse, but I just hope that the city is resilient. I hope that people come out and support the city."

Patrick Russell, owner of the Fells Point bars Kooper's Tavern and Slainte Irish Pub, was doing his best Tuesday morning to gather his thoughts on the city's Monday night. He was conflicted — concerned for the neighborhoods, but also for his employees and the bills they have to pay. Ultimately, though, Russell said nothing matters more than the safety of the citizens.

"This is a business for me — it's all replaceable," Russell said. "People living in these cities who don't have support, they're the real ones to be concerned about. That's life. You can replace possessions."

Gia Blattermann, who owns the Little Italy restaurant Gia's Cafe, said that her business has already been impacted.

"We had a 100-person catering order for Constellation Energy on Tuesday. It was cancelled Monday night," she said.

Constellation was among the Baltimore businesses that kept its offices closed on Tuesday.

Blattermann, who helped to open and manage the new Little Italy bar Pane e Vino earlier this month, said she was concerned about the effects the curfew would have on the bar's business but wasn't sure exactly sure of the curfew's rules.

"I'm not sure how it's going to work," Blattermann said. "I wasn't around in the 1960s. The only game plan is to follow the law. I presume it's going to have an adverse affect on business."

Blattermann said she had philosophical concerns about the curfew as well.

"To me, it's counterproductive to penalize people who are trying to earn a livelihood," she said. "Maybe the curfew for children should be earlier and the one for adults should be later."