Texas Bar Facing Criticism For Hosting 'Mask Off' Party

Days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that his state was ending its mask mandate and allowing bars and restaurants to operate at full capacity, one bar in Texas decided to celebrate.

The owners of Concrete Cowboy in Houston are throwing a "Mask Off" party on March 10, the same day that the coronavirus restrictions will be lifted. As news of the party spread, local politicians and residents blasted the decision and urged the bar to cancel the party.

"We are here to condemn the event on Wednesday night by [Concrete Cowboy], which is just a few blocks away," State Representative Ann Johnson said. "They are planning to hold a large 'Mask Off' party, where for hours indoors, drinking, dancing, shouting at one another, they will incur the additional risk that we see through this COVID-19 pandemic and the varieties are here and the variants that are widespread throughout our city."

"This is unquestionably a superspreader event that will literally kick off the fourth surge of COVID in our Houston area," she added.

Houston resident Brittany Vasquez told KXXV that hosting a "Mask Off" party is "a slap in the face to health care workers."

"For an establishment, I think to host a party and advertise it publicly is a slap in the face to health care workers who are on the front lines watching and seeing death every single day," she said.

The bar's owners have not commented on the party but did remove the phrase "mask off" from the fliers promoting the event. According to the Houston Chroniclethe party is now being called an "industry party" for restaurant workers.

The paper reported that Concrete Cowboy has been in trouble before. It was shut down twice by the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission during the past year. The most recent closure was for 60 days.

Photo: Getty Images


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