SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – After a successful fundraiser, VFW Post 3433 is staying open.
The post, a place where many veterans come together to enjoy fellowship, had to close its doors in September due to the high cost of liquor liability insurance premiums.
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“We got a letter in the mail saying that our liquor liability wouldn’t be resolutely renewed. And it’s a state issue. It went from $9,000 a year to $70,000 a year,” said Post Commander Robert Zdenek.
They held a concert fundraiser last weekend to help reopen – it turns out, the event was a success, and the group raised more than $20,000. It was enough to put some money down on their premiums and reopen for business.
It also means their 56 employees will be able to get back to work.
“We have a meeting, actually today, our reopening meeting to get things back in order, and bring our bartenders back to work. We’ve had 56 employees, who have been unemployed for the last two months about so they’re gonna go back to work,” he said.