SAN ANTONIO — The “Open” signs at Bond's 007 Rock Bar haven’t been open in weeks.
“We had three managers we kept on through the COVID-19 times, and in July we finally had to let them go. We couldn’t support them anymore,” owner John Eguia said.
The bar, like hundreds of other business in the city and state, was forced to shut down because of the novel coronavirus. But if things don’t change soon for Eguia, the signs may not be coming back on at all.
“We have a couple of weeks," he said. "We don’t have much money in the hole to help us."
The pandemic has forced the business to get a little creative. Before, they were selling merchandise just to be able to keep up with the bills. But come next week, they'll be selling barbecue plates and holding a raffle fundraiser to help bring in some much-needed money.
“The benefit is actually going to help us a lot; it’s going to help us pay out utilities. It’s more like a brown bag. We’re going to have pulled pork sandwiches, chips and a drink,” Eguia said.
Their goal is to sell 500 plates. Plates will be sold for $8 each and every plate that is sold buys Bond's 007 Rock Bar more time to wait out this pandemic.
“Our rock bar has been more like a cheers family bar. Everybody knows everybody, everybody hangs out. It’s a very cool spot,” Eguia said.
The fundraiser will be held at Bond's 007 Rock Bar, located downtown near Soledad and Martin, on Sept. 19 from noon to 8 p.m.