Some venues remain shut amid pandemic, even with loosened restrictions & higher gathering sizes in NOLA Some venues remain shut amid pandemic, even with loosened restrictions & higher gathering sizes in NOLA Share Updated: 12:18 PM CDT Apr 11, 2021 Some venues remain shut amid pandemic, even with loosened restrictions & higher gathering sizes in NOLA Share Updated: 12:18 PM CDT Apr 11, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript UP. BUT FIRST THIS WEEKEND BARS AND RESTAURANTS HERE IN NEW ORLEANS CAN STAY OPEN UNTIL 1 AM EXTENDING THEIR LAST CALL BY ABOUT TWO HOURS AND AS MANY VENDORS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EXTRA REVENUE OTHERS ARE REMAINING CLOSED SHAY O’CONNOR JOINS US LIVE FROM ONE THAT FINALLY REOPENED ITS DOORS TONIGHT. SHE THAT’S VERY SURE WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE AT THE METROPOLITAN NIGHTCLUB KNOWN AS GENERATIONS HALL WHERE RIGHT NOW A WEDDING IS ACTUALLY GOING ON A WEDDING RECEPTION. NOW THE OWNER HERE TELLS ME THIS ALL BRINGS ABOUT A GLIMMER OF HOPE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 13 MONTHS THE METROPOLITAN OPENING ITS SPACE FOR AN EVENT TONIGHT IS A WEDDING WEDDING RECEPTION THAT’S BEEN BEEN ON THE BOOK FOR A WHILE. GEORGE. DEMON SAYS THE 35,000 SQUARE FOOT EVENT HALL COULD HAVE OPENED MUCH LONG AGO, BUT AT THE TIME THE RISKS OUTWEIGH THE GAINS NOW WITH THE HIGHER GATHERING SIZES AND LATER HOURS. DEMON SAYS HIS CLUB MAY FINALLY START TO SEE A PROFIT NEXT MONTH. THE HALL WILL START BOOKING PUBLIC EVENTS. NOW THAT THE GONE UP 150 FOR THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS WE CAN IT MAKES IT STILL MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. WE’VE GOT A RESTRICT PEOPLE AND RESTRICT OUR NUMBERS AND ADHERE TO THE TO THE GUIDELINES, BUT IT HELPS OUT A LITTLE BIT FOR OTHER NIGHTCLUBS STILL CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC ONLY TIME WILL HELP JESSE PAGE THE OWNER OF THE BLUE NOW ALONG FRENCHMAN SAYS HIS CLUB HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE MARCH 15TH OF LAST YEAR, BUT HE’S STILL HAPPY ABOUT THE CITY EXTENDING HOURS AT BARS AND RESTAURANTS TO 1AM. I THINK IT’S A POSITIVE MOVE BY BY THE CITY TO ALLOW CLUBS TO STAY. OPEN UNTIL ONE OR ALLOW BARS TO STAY OPEN TILL ONE AS A POSITIVE STEP FOR US. WHAT STILL KEEPS US IN A STRANGLEHOLD ARE THE RESTRICTIONS THE DISTANCING OF THE MUSICIANS THE AUDIENCE AND FOR WHAT WE DO. IT’S A CONGREGATION OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER. JUST OTHER VENUE OWN. ERS STATE HAS MADE SO FAR THE HOPE IS THERE FOR ALL SO THE OF YOU KNOW OUR MAYOR OPENING UP FOR US OUR GOVERNOR LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS, AND AND NOW WITH OUR NUMBERS GOING UP A LITTLE BIT WHAT WITH OUR CAPACITY PEOPLE GET VACCINATED. I THINK THE ENERGY IN THE CITY IS GOING TO COME BACK BIG TIME. NOT LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATORS GRANT JUST FOR A SECOND BECAUSE OF SO MUCH TRAFFIC ONLINE EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH BUSINESSES TRYING TO APPLY THE PORTAL ACTUALLY CRASHED. SO WE’RE TOLD AT THAT PORTAL WILL ACTUALLY BE UP AND OPEN FOR BUSINESSES IN THIS COMING WEEK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BLUE NOW AND NIGHTCLUB, WE’RE ACTUALLY TOLD THAT THEY’RE PLANNING ON REOPENING THIS COME JUNE. SO DEFINITELY SOMETHING GOOD TO LOOK FORWARD TO SHERMAN FOR NOW REPORTING LIVE F