In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many small business owners have faced unprecedented challenges.
Among them is Lisa Zarza, a Minnesota resident and veteran of the bar and restaurant industry, who has been forced to commute two hours daily to Wisconsin to keep her business alive. Zarza attributes the demise of her two Minnesota-based businesses to the policies implemented by Gov. Tim Walz during the pandemic.
As reported by Fox News, Zarza, who has spent 32 years in the hospitality sector, currently operates the Outpost Bar and Grill in Wisconsin. She was compelled to relocate her business out of Minnesota due to the stringent COVID-era regulations enforced by Gov. Walz. "I have to travel two hours a day for the right to work as an American citizen," Zarza lamented. She added that the initial phase of this transition was particularly challenging, often leaving her emotional as she crossed the state border.
Zarza was the previous owner of Alibi Bar and Drinkery in Lakeville and Alibi at Froggy Bottoms in Wisconsin. In 2020, Gov. Walz ordered a statewide closure of bars and restaurants to curb the spread of COVID-19. Zarza, however, defied this order, keeping her business open for two weeks in an attempt to stay afloat. This act of defiance led to the suspension of her food service license and lawsuits from both the attorney general and the Minnesota Department of Health, resulting in substantial legal fees.
Zarza recounted, "On Jan. 10, all bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen. The state of Minnesota refused to issue my food service license, and I operated illegally without a food service license, even though I had never violated any food service code." She was threatened with arrest or jail if she did not close her business, which she eventually did in early April.
Zarza's move to Wisconsin, where she has been operating for two and a half years, was relatively smooth, with no hurdles in obtaining the necessary licenses. She expressed her relief at crossing the state border, saying, "When I cross the border, I literally feel like I'm free again. I flip off the state of Minnesota every time I cross this border and know that I can work in Wisconsin."
Zarza's concerns extend beyond her personal business struggles. She expressed deep worry upon learning that Vice President Kamala Harris had chosen Gov. Walz as her running mate. "This isn't what Minnesota is. This isn't who we want in our White House. He's not what we represent as being a patriot," she said. "I think Harris made a big, huge mistake when she picked her running mate."
Zarza's story underscores the challenges faced by small business owners during the pandemic, particularly those in the hospitality industry. It also highlights the potential implications of government policies on the livelihoods of citizens, a topic that continues to be a focal point in the ongoing political discourse.
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