As the world emerged from quarantine last year and COVID-19 restrictions eased, people shifted back to frequenting their favorite spots to grab a drink.
Bartenders are happy to see them.
Shardell Shanaé, nickname “Cali,” is a bartender and manager at 945 Kitchen and Lounge in Addison. She says the service industry is better now than before the pandemic.
“People are more generous,” she said. “People have been patronizing and appreciating us, and what we do because we’re on the front lines of it all, we’re exposed to everything.”
Cali said her income has noticeably increased since restrictions have been lifted.
The website Popmenu says consumers are digging deeper into their pockets to support service industry workers post-quarantine. Research from their nationwide survey shows fifty-eight percent of customers say they have increased the amount they typically tip.
“Consumers know this is an industry that has been hit hard, and they want to support their favorite eateries, especially staples of their local community,” says Brendan Sweeney, CEO and co-founder of the site.
However, the increase in tips has not come without an increase in workload.
Cali notes that, being a bartender and a manager, she must pay attention to a lot. “[The] TABC is stricter than before [the pandemic], so I have to make sure the bar is in order and that my servers aren’t over-serving [alcohol], while also managing my bottle girls and serving customers.”
Another of bartenders’ responsibilities that has become more strenuous is taking care of the bar while also managing to-go orders.
Food delivery services saw a significant increase during the pandemic. Marketwatch.com reported Door Dash, Grubhub, UberEats, and Postmates bringing in a collective $5.5 billion in 2020 between April and September. The companies brought in a combined $2.5 billion during the same timeframe a year before.
Santos Mejia is a star bartender at Gloria’s Latin Cuisine in Arlington. You’ll see him busy serving a crowded bar most days. Still, he said the most challenging thing about his job is catering to food delivery services.
“It’s hard to keep up with the demand of food delivery and be there for my customers here at the bar,” he said. “It’s like I’m working for two different companies.”
Post-pandemic serving is demanding, but Texas proves to be one of the better places to do it, according to Zippa.com. The website rated the top ten states to be a bartender and Texas ranked sixth in pay, providing a yearly salary range between $15,000-$32,000.
So, as you’re out celebrating this holiday season, remember your bartender is working hard for you. To make it easier on them, know what you want to order before approaching the bar and don’t forget to tip your bartenders, Cali suggests.
