Minnesota Bar Owner Blasts ‘Evil’ Tim Walz for Pandemic-Induced Bankruptcy and $300K in Legal Costs

A former Minnesota bar owner, now commuting two hours daily to work in Wisconsin, has criticized Governor Tim Walz’s pandemic-era lockdowns for “decimating” local businesses and causing severe financial damage to those who opposed the restrictions.

Lisa Zarza, 52, who said she was driven out of business after defying Gov. Tim Walz’s COVID restrictions, now commutes two hours daily to run her new spot in neighbouring Wisconsin. Lisa Zarza

Lisa Zarza, 52, who now operates the Outpost Bar and Grill in Bay City, Wisconsin, claims that Walz’s policies forced her to abandon her establishments in Minnesota. Zarza lost her licenses for Alibi Drinkery in Lakeville, Froggy Bottoms River Pub, and Lily PADio in Northfield due to the lockdowns, which she argues were overly restrictive and damaging to small businesses.

Zarza and some of her fellow bar owners opened their doors in October 2020 in defiance of Walz’s ExecuWalz’srder prohibiting Minnesota bars, restaurants and salons from opening for business. Star Tribune via Getty Images

“I think he’s an evil man who overstepped his role as governor. He took small businesses and ripped them up. He destroyed us,” Zarza told The Post. Her new bar, located a solid hour’s drive from her home in Rosemont, Minnesota, has been a lifeline for her since she was forced to file for personal bankruptcy due to legal battles and fines related to the lockdown orders.

Zarza, who has lived in Minnesota since she was seven, said that the state’s shelter-in-place and business closure orders, first implemented in March 2020, severely impacted her livelihood. Despite complying with initial restrictions, she and other bar owners defied the ongoing orders as they extended through 2021. “I stood up because he stripped us of our rights,” Zarza said, describing the restrictions as discriminatory.

Gov. Tim Walz’s restrictions on bars, restaurants and salons in the state lasted until May 2021, 14 months after the crisis started. Some business owners who lost their livelihoods say the shutdowns were excessive. Star Tribune via Getty Images

The state’s approach to reopening was inconsistent, Zarza argued, pointing out that major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Home Depot were allowed to operate. At the same time, small businesses like hers remained closed. She described the lockdowns as violating rights, leading to significant financial hardship and bankruptcy.

Zarza expressed dismay upon learning that Walz had been selected as the running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. “I almost dropped to my knees, and I was sick. I was sick to my stomach. Everything that he did to our state came back,” Zarza said, criticizing Harris’s choice.

Despite the personal and financial toll, Zarza has found success in Wisconsin and strongly prefers her new state. “I love Wisconsin. I’ll never go back to Minnesota. I’ll live there for seven more months, and then after that, I never want to go to that state again,” she stated.