HOUSTON—The din of conversation and music that normally fills The Cottonmouth Club in downtown Houston fell silent on June 26 when the owners shut it down for a second time during the coronavirus pandemic—a week before the Texas governor ordered all bars to follow suit amid a surge in infections.
Co-owner Michael Neff—questioning what he saw as a rush to reopen by the state and wondering if his industry was making things worse as some bars flouted rules on occupancy limits—said he felt he could no longer provide a safe environment for his staff or customers at the neighborhood bar with a rock ‘n’ roll vibe.
