NORMALLY ACTIVE, Texas City’s 6th Street felt more like a quiet Sunday afternoon rather than the middle of the day on Monday. COVID-19, better know by its street name Coronavirus, continued to make its unwelcomed presence felt as the area falls into a cone of uncertainty.
Several area restaurants have already closed, namely Downtown, which had just launched its re-opening last week.
However, 6th Street Garage offered a sense of routine. Even with no active sports for the immediate future, the bar’s multiple televisions provided a welcomed distraction as talking heads on ESPN and NFL Network discussed the blockbuster trade that sent Texans All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals in exchange for former All-Pro running back David Johnson.
“We’ve had a bit of a pick up here,” said 6th Street Garage owner Vincent Pandanell. “Could things be better? Sure, but we’re going to keep things normal as long as possible.”
Pandanell has hammered down the message of making sure his staff washes their hands while also having them wear gloves. The precautionary measures – along with the fact 6th Street Garage is open – bolsters the spirits of the crowd.
Until told otherwise, it will be business as usual for 6th Street Garage. There will be bands highlighting the Friday night schedule and the beer will remain cold. However, the absence of sports is a void that Pandanell knows cannot be avoided.
“Hopefully, we can the games back sooner than later,” he said. “The timing of it was bad because the Astros were about to get started and the Rockets were getting close to the playoffs. We were really starting to see a lot of interest from fans of the XFL team (Houston Roughnecks). People were coming in to see them, and when a Houston team does well, it’s going get the fans excited.”
For Matt Hargrove, the day was a chance for him to spend time with his daughter while she is out of school. Having just finished at his job at the Port of Houston, coming to 6th Street Garage made Hargrove the opposite of the many who have rushed stores throughout the area in a sense of panic buying not seen even during hurricane season.
“You should be cautious, but I don’t understand the reason behind the panic,” he said. “Right now, I don’t think there should be a sense of mass hysteria, especially if you’re doing the things they ask you to like wash your hands.”
While government officials believe the worst is yet to come, Hargrove feels confident things will return to normal soon. He’s hoping his belief is right, especially since he will be part of one of more than 80 teams that will take part at the crawfish boil held at Gulf Greyhound Park on April 4.
“Fingers crossed,” he said. “Fingers crossed.”
Hargrove’s beliefs fly in the face of the news that suggests older people stay at home and the fact President Donald J. Trump said the crisis could drag well into “July or August” during a briefing on Monday afternoon.
As of now, Galveston County officials have not made a decision regarding the prospects of mandatory self-distancing. Schools remain closed until at least March 22, while all high school athletic events have been cancelled through March 29.
