On Virginia-Tennessee Border, One Side Is Open For Business While the Other Is Still on Lockdown

BRISTOL, Tenn./Virginia State Line -- Joe Deel is behind the chrome-trimmed turquoise counter of his legendary diner, the Burger Bar in Virginia, working with his wife, Kayla; daughter Emily; and sous chef, Corey Young. They can see people going to lunch at the State Line Bar and Grill in Tennessee, just across the street and less than 50 yards away. But their round, black-topped stools remain as empty as they were nearly two months ago when the coronavirus first shut down the country. "When they talked about opening Tennessee and not Virginia, I knew this was going to be a problem," Deel said. "I love the other businesses downtown. We all have a great relationship and help each other. It's nothing directly toward them. If people haven't been able to go out and sit down and eat and have a drink, and all of a sudden it opens, that's the priority where they're going to eat."-- More...