Closure of Burger Bar Suing Ron DeSantis Raises Questions
suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the "Protection of Children" Act [SB 1438] which banned children from attending "adult" live performances in the state, recently announced that it would be closing its Orlando restaurant on June 2 after more than 16 years.In a post on Facebook, owner John Paonessa said the decision was made because "times have changed" and that the "hustle and bustle" of downtown Orlando has given way to a "sleepy city with few people working downtown." Paonessa said that he hopes to reopen Hamburger Mary's in another area, and is in talks with other venues.In court filings submitted on Wednesday, the Florida Attorney General's Office said it is seeking reassurances that Hamburger Mary's is planning on reopening, as its permanent closure would affect the ongoing lawsuit related to the implementation of SB 1438.The bill is seen as a way to crack down on drag shows in Florida, despite such events not being specifically mentioned in its wording.Hamburger Mary's sued DeSantis in May 2023, alleging that the enforcement of the ban violated the Constitution and has damaged their business, including the cancelation of bookings for a "family-friendly" drag show it hosted on Sundays.In November 2023, the Supreme Court prevented Florida from enforcing the act, pending the result of the case.
