LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After more than a year of restrictions, setbacks and losses, a restaurant in downtown Louisville has unlocked its doors and reopened to the public.

Courtney Allen is a bartender at Sidebar Whiskey Row, and said the past year has been challenging.

"Life is tough. I mean at any moment everything can shut down, everything can be taken from you and just have to start back at square one," Allen said.

For the first time in months, the lunch crowd was bustling at Sidebar in downtown Louisville's Whiskey Row. The restaurant reopened May 26, having been closed since March 2020.

"It has definitely forced me to go with different avenues, creating my business, and just actually waiting for us to come back to 100% capacity," Allen said.

She's back pouring drinks. Allen says she doesn’t have bad days at work and genuinely enjoys making customers feel welcomed. 

"[It's good to] be together again. We’ve all been separated for so long," she said.

The restaurant’s management is getting ready for an expected summer boom in business after struggling for so long.

Lisa Ramos, general manager at Sidebar Whiskey Row, said changing weather, easing restrictions and widespread vaccinations should lead to a successful summer at Sidebar.

On June 11, Kentucky will lift all COVID-19 related capacity limits and its mask mandate, except in places where people are the most vulnerable to illness.

After surviving the past year, Ramos said the restaurant is ready to get back to business as usual.

"Foot traffic was gone, the conventions, the events, the concerts, basketball, everything had just gotten shut down so it just seemed just like we should just shut down with the city until it was time," Ramos said.

After a long year of cancellations, the hospitality industry is still weaving with every unpredictable punch. 

"When a restaurant is dormant for a year its impossible to turn the lights back on," Ramos said.

With the reintroduction of crowds, returning customer Sandy Herchert is encouraged about the restaurant's return.

"The food is amazing as ever. They have not missed a beat," Herchert said.

While several other restaurants have been struggling to find help because of the pandemic, the majority of staff at Sidebar were excited to head back to work.

"Our biggest saving grace has been our staff," Ramos said. "We have about 80% of our staff that has come back from pre-COVID which is amazing. They already know the program, they already know the product."

Still, Ramos says the restaurant could use more workers.

"It’s a struggle. It’s really hard and right now we’re on limited hours we’re only open Wednesday through Saturday and that’s because on Saturday night  I couldn’t imagine asking any of these employees one more hour," Ramos explained.

At Sidebar Whiskey Row, they say they have a long road to go, but as a busy restaurant things are starting to look up.

"The hospitality industry is a resilient one and you can’t knock us down. You can put us down for awhile, but we’ll come back," Ramos said.

Restaurant owners say The Hall on Washington Street in downtown Louisville is undergoing changes and is expected to reopen later in the fall.