Black Eyed Suzie's Closed Temporarily Due To Coronavirus

BEL AIR, MD — A Main Street eatery has closed temporarily in downtown Bel Air. Black Eyed Suzie's announced it was closed Monday after a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus.

"First and foremost, the staff member is OK, just dealing with some minor symptoms," Black Eyed Suzie's owner Brian Acquavella posted on the Black Eyed Suzie's Facebook page. "Second and equally as important, we are closing as of right now."

In a show of support, Looney's Pub is donating 15 percent of all sales Wednesday to Black Eyed Suzie's staff.

"Bel Air is OUR community. We have to do everything possible to lift up every business in these trying times," Looney's Pub posted on its Facebook page after the announcement from Black Eyed Suzie's. "So to our friends at Black Eyed Suzie's, we’re here for you. This Wednesday is dedicated to you and your incredible staff. Please show your support Wednesday 7/29 and when they reopen on Friday 7/31, don’t hesitate to stop in and dine local."

At Black Eyed Suzie's, Acquavella said the employee who has coronavirus last worked Saturday, July 18, and has not been in contact with the restaurant or any staff member for the last nine days. When reporting for a shift on July 18, the staffer had undergone a temperature check and shown no symptoms.

The worker had a slight cough on Sunday and felt tightness in the chest. Despite the staffer reporting feeling better on Monday, Black Eyed Suzie's instructed the employee to get tested before returning to work, and the test was positive.

These were the person's last four shifts, according to Acquavella:

• Saturday night on July 18
• Friday night on July 17
• Wednesday night on July 15
• Monday afternoon on July 13

While Acquavella was not disclosing the identity of the employee to protect privacy, he said he would answer questions for those concerned about contact who send a direct message to Black Eyed Suzie's.

He thanked Looney's and everyone else in the community for their support after the restaurant closed following the staff member testing positive.

"So many people think restaurants work against one another but the reality is we are now and have always been in this together!" Acquavella said. "Downtown Bel Air is comprised of so many small business owners who take care of each other and the community and I’m so happy everyone is getting to see that, first hand, more and more during these trying times! This week is a tough one for us, but cheers to a promising future!"