Boise brewpub reopens ‘confident’ after employees’ coronavirus prompts weeklong closure

Downtown Boise restaurant 10 Barrel Brewing Co. plans to reopen at 4 p.m. Friday, June 19, after a weeklong closure.

The brewpub at 826 W. Bannock St. closed temporarily because of COVID-19 cases.

“We did have a couple employees test positive for coronavirus,” general manager Kyle Smith said Thursday. “And so that’s incredibly important. So we instantly closed the pub down that morning, before we even opened. We’re not playing games with this by any means.”

Smith said customers should know “that 10 Barrel, as a brand, in all of our pubs, are going above and beyond what is expected to keep a safe workplace for both our customers and our employees.” The 10 Barrel website lists guidelines that include all employees in contact with guests wear face coverings, and all employees get temperature checked before working.

In Boise, 10 Barrel staff members voluntarily have gone for testing, Smith said. “We’re following all the rules and regulations to a ‘T,’ he said, “and I feel very confident about what we’re doing.”

Other downtown bars recently have faced similar challenges. Last week, Amsterdam Lounge announced on Facebook that a staff member had tested positive, causing it to shutter for the weekend. On Wednesday, Bittercreek Alehouse and Diablo & Sons announced precautionary closures so that employees could get tested; they plan to reopen Monday, June 22.

Central District Health Department recently has reported cases of customers infected with COVID-19 visiting bars in Boise and Meridian. Even with masks, social distancing and other safety measures, service-industry employees often feel vulnerable.

“It is tough,” Smith said. “That’s why we’re doing everything we can do to keep everybody safe.”

This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 4:00 AM.