As Some Office Workers Return, Happy Hour Sees a Wobbly Comeback

Even as companies struggle to coax workers back to the office, some bars are reporting that the weekday happy hour, an institution that has been around since the 1930s, is reaching a semblance of prepandemic times. With office occupancy nationwide averaging 41 percent — less than half prepandemic level of 99 percent, according to the workplace security firm Kastle Systems — central business districts are emptier than they were in 2019.

Still, those who are back in the office are going back to the bar after work.

Melisa Rodriguez, 24, and Samaya Mayes, 22, employees of an events company in Midtown, joined about 10 colleagues for an impromptu happy hour at Beer Authority on a recent Wednesday. Their company is back in the office twice a week.

“It’s a nice break from focusing on work,” Ms. Rodriguez said, adding that it offers a pause between the workday and her commute home.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/business/return-to-office-bars.html