
1

"The general manager Terry Cullen of Tommy Joe's in Bethesda calls the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 'the busiest night of the year' and worries business will be down about 70 percent this year because of restricted hours and capacity; he says Tommy Joe's has added partitions over the bar, instituted daily deep cleanings and brought in extra staff to monitor customers' mask usage—expenses that cut into the bottom line. Cullen says their clientele knows they are sticklers about the rules and believes bars that can control crowds are being punished by those who don't: 'We are doing what we have to do plus more and we'll have to get through it,' and he adds that they want to stay open but are hoping for a midnight closing to have a chance." - Adele Chapin