Positive COVID-19 tests close local restaurants

TEXARKANA — Benchmark American Brassiere and the Arkansasside Hopkins Icehouse have announced temporary closures due to one employee each testing positive for COVID-19.

“We had a confirmed positive test for COVID-19 for one of our employees,” said Lisa Matlock, general manager of both Hopkins restaurants. Each Hopkins has its own on-site manager.

“We’ve closed the Arkansas-side Hopkins Icehouse and called in a professional sanitizing team to

do the job on the place,” she said. “We will remain closed until all the Arkansas-side Hopkins employees test negative for COVID. Then at that time, we will reevaluate.

Matlock said a date for reopening has not been set and that decision will be made as the situation unfolds and test results come back in.

“A re-opening announcement will be made at the appropriate time,” she said. “We estimate being close a week or two, but again, that will depend on test results … Our Texas-side Hopkins Icehouse on Gibson Lane remains open and ready to serve.”

At Benchmark, Jason K. Williams said that one of his employees called in with a high fever. He instructed his staff member to stay home and get checked.

“They then called back later that day and reported testing positive for COVID19,” Williams said. “At that point, the ownership team decided to shut down for 21 days. We have a small staff and they work in close proximity to each other. So, for the safety of both our staff and our customers, we made the shutdown decision.”

He said Benchmark will bring in a decontamination team and all employees have been asked to self-quarantine.

“If they show symptoms, we will cover testing costs if they need to get tested,” he said. “Once one of our staff came down with symptoms, we took action. They have not been back in the building. After that, the decisions for counter-measures and shutdown were made. To our customers, we appreciate your patience and look forward to serving you soon.”

(Hopkins Ice House downtown is located at 301 E. Third St., Texarkana, Arkansas. Benchmark American Brassiere is located at 4115 N. Kings Highway, Suite 111, Texarkana, Texas)

Staff photo by Sara Vaughn ■ Benchmark American Brassiere, left, and Hopkins Icehouse of Texarkana, Ark., both announced employeeshave tested postive for COVID-19. Both restaurants' management have announced shutdowns so they can take care of their employees and establishments and safeguard their customers. Professional sanitizing teams have been hired, and staff have been asked to quarantine. No reopening dates are known at this time.

Staff photo by Junius Stone