Wharf Fort Lauderdale reopens (again)
The Wharf Fort Lauderdale had a low-key reopening on Thursday, enthusiasm for the return of the downtown open-air hot spot likely chilled by temperatures that dipped below 60 by night’s end.
The evening, which ran 4 p.m. to midnight, drew crowds that numbered no more than a few dozen at a time, with many reservation-only tables sitting empty. The sample size was small, but attendees were well-behaved and seemed committed to anti-COVID rules on mask wearing and social distancing. Opening weekend at the Wharf continues through Sunday.
The revival comes two months since the Wharf ’s first attempt at reopening in November ended abruptly after just two days, engulfed in a social-media firestorm over pictures and video of hundreds of maskless young people swarming the outdoor drinking and social hub.
That disturbing scene seemed almost quaint less than a month later, when a Sun Sentinel report in December found that many South Florida bars and clubs, from Hollywood to Delray Beach, continued to operate while packed with unmasked patrons — even more dangerous for being indoors.
Among the COVIDminded changes that Wharf visitors will find this weekend are a single entrance and exit on West Las Olas Boulevard; stanchions lining each bar, to eliminate crowding and create a single lane for “drive-through” drink service; acrylic glass barriers on the bar; and more distance between seating areas.
Co-owner Emi Guerra said the Wharf would operate at 50-60 percent capacity — though outdoor venues are allowed to be at 100 percent
— and also mentioned a change in “certain things with crowd control.”
Food and drink service is forbidden for anyone without a face covering, Guerra said, and masks are mandatory for customers moving around the venue.
Guerra said representatives with Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry’s office were “very pleased” with the Wharf ’s reopening plan, though much of it is identical to the original November blueprint.
“We have a plan, we’re gonna stick to it and see how it works. And get better, hopefully, as it goes along,” Guerra said. “We just have to hold ourselves to a higher standard in general. That’s a lesson to be learned. Especially when you are the biggest venue around. More eyes are on us, and you’ve just got to be better.”
Guerra ‘s frustration, and that of co-owner Alex Mantecon, is palpable. They are unhappy with the uneven enforcement of COVID rules at other bars and restaurants downtown and across South Florida. And they are miffed at patrons who flaunted the rules at the Wharf in November.
Some Wharf staff now wear T-shirts with large text covering the front: “Please help us stay open. Please wear your mask.”
Mantecon called the November closing “heartbreaking,” more so for their nearly 200 employees.
“The hardest part about closing down after those two days was looking at each employee in the eye and telling them that we have to shut down, when they are seeing what’s happening at other places,” Mantecon said.
Mike Sikellis and Tiffany Trivisonno, a couple of 20-somethings from Montreal, said they felt comfortable with the environment at the Wharf on Thursday afternoon. A
Some of the staff at the Wharf Fort Lauderdale sport T-shirts with a message.
frequent visitor to Fort Lauderdale, Sikellis said the Wharf ’s closing in November made the TV news in Canada. He put the blame on both sides.
“I know Florida is a bit looser with the rules, but they should have been more careful. It was the people, right? But you’ve got to police the people, unfortunately,” he said.
Eli Moret, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, said the Wharf is a perfect place to socialize
during COVID, outdoors with a family-oriented, dog-friendly atmosphere during the day, and a laidback party vibe at night.
“OK, it’s cold now, but other times, why are you gonna be in a bar instead of out here? This is beautiful, the river, the lights, the trees, the buildings. This is Fort Laudy right here,” he said.