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New State Guidance Allows ‘Pub Games’ to Return Friday State Guidance Allows 'Pub Games' to Return

By Tyler Carr

Tyler Carr: Many bars statewide are anticipating the return of their beloved pub games including The Beginning two in East Syracuse. I talked to the bar’s owner – Mikey Krajacic – about how much these games truly affect the atmosphere of the bar.

Mike Krajacic: “A considerable amount of darts are played here. A good amount of pool (too). And it gives people, even though its half capacity, something to do when they come in instead of just having to sit there and eat and drink.”

Carr: Tomorrow marks the first day “pub games” such as pool or darts are allowed to resume in New York bars since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The health department lists certain restrictions as well – but it is still a groundbreaking change for bars like The Beginning two.

Krajacic: “Its incredible. Just getting back to normal, which who knows if it’ll ever be as it was. Just that semblance and normalcy — its kind of exciting”)

Carr: The Beginning two gets back to playing tomorrow. Bad Axe Throwing – who sacrificed their liquor license in order to stay open – is not moving as fast.

Kyle Miller: “For a license application its three months or six weeks. COVID and us being in the gray area, we’re not kindof a bowling alley, we’re not really a bar. It is hard to say when the state is going to give us a clear guidance.”

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Bars and pubs statewide have had a tough time fighting through COVID restrictions since last March. Regulations have kept bars to 50% capacity since the pandemic started. While most bars still operate, something is certainly missing from the atmosphere. The pool table, empty and untouched. The dart boards have been pleading for just one game.

On Friday, all pub games will be allowed to return to bars as part of a New state guidance released by the State Health Department last week.

Previously, any establishment that had a liquor license could not allow pub games inside. Many bars experienced a traumatic change when these games were barred. For owners like Mikey Krujacic of ‘The Beginning II’, this change creates a way to progress towards a pre-pandemic experience.

“Who knows if it will ever be as it was, but just that semblance and normalcy is exciting,” said Krujacic.

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