By: Heidi Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— Maxine’s Taproom is one of many Fayetteville restaurants and bars that has been forced to get creative to accommodate COVID-19 precautions.
Maxine’s joined Fayetteville’s Outdoor Refreshment Area this summer as an initial push toward implementing these changes. The refreshment area enables guests 21 years of age and older to carry and consume alcoholic beverages in designated cups throughout specific areas in Fayetteville.
The area opened on June 22 and has expanded over the course of the summer.
Owner of Maxine’s Hannah Withers says the plan for the refreshment area was in the works for several months before the pandemic, but the plans were sped up when COVID-19 became prevalent.
Withers said she thinks the changes have been successful thus far and might be here to stay indefinitely.
“I think this is going to change the way that people look at our industry for much longer than while COVID-19 is here,” Withers said.
Withers has worked to make her guests comfortable by equipping the patio with ambient string lights and socially distant seating. She said she thinks that about 60%-70% of Maxine’s guests are taking advantage of the outdoor seating due to a large demographic of people that feel more protected from the virus while sitting outside.
“I’ve started getting attached to managing that space and creating the outside space as well,” Withers said.
Withers said she expects to maintain the outdoor seating space even after the pandemic has passed.
“It’s interesting that one of the things that I really love about what we do for a living is the way that we create the spaces that people want to come to,” Withers said.
Maxine’s hours are 4 p.m. – 12 a.m. and The Outdoor Refreshment Area is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.