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Football season helps local bars make up for lost revenue during COVID-19 pandemic

B.D. Riley's had to close its Sixth Street location, but the Mueller location is thriving partly because of Sunday football games.

AUSTIN, Texas — Over the last seven months, several Austin bars have had to close their doors for good due to a lack of revenue. For the bars still open, football season has helped significantly with making up for financial losses.

B.D. Riley's, a long-running and beloved Irish bar, had to recently close down its Sixth Street location. But the Mueller location is still open – and thriving.

The bar's owners said they are grateful for the Mueller neighborhood, and that they've also become the go-to spot for New England Patriots fans on Sundays during the games.

RELATED: LIST: Austin businesses close permanently during COVID-19 pandemic

Although bars are now allowed to operate at 75% capacity, B.D. Riley's has remained at 50%.

"Fortunately, this pub has been thriving ... even though we're at 50% capacity. We're doing more than two-thirds of our normal volume and that's thanks to the neighbors here and the fans behind us," co-owner Steve Basile said.

Food is served, people have to keep their masks on when getting up from their tables and no one is allowed to roam around.

Basile encourages the Austin community to keep supporting local bars since a lot of them are still making up for what they lost when they were closed for several months. 

"It's been hard to watch some of my friends and neighbors close longtime businesses, one after the other, and it's important to make sure we support those longtime businesses," Basile said.

WATCH: Downtown Austin Alliance helping Austin businesses

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