Jim Poolman considers the Blarney Stone lucky in weathering the coronavirus pandemic over the past year.
âIt was pretty grim last April and May, but slowly but surely, traffic has picked up,â said the co-owner of the downtown Bismarck Irish pub.
Gov. Doug Burgum last March closed bars and restaurants to onsite service for six weeks after the pandemic emerged in North Dakota. Dining establishments were limited to takeout and delivery services. Even after reopening May 1, businesses were subject to the governorâs âND Smart Restartâ reopening guidelines for seating capacity, social distancing and other safety protocols, according to risk levels.