AUSTIN, Texas — Some venues across Central Texas are pledging to only re-open in a safe manner, or to not open at all until more Texans are vaccinated.

It is a message of solidarity against what many venue owners say is reckless actions by state leaders.

So far roughly 50 venues have taken the Safe in Sound pledge, including Mohawk Austin, which has seen a devastating year.

“Mohawk closed its doors on March 16 of 2020, and we haven't been open to the public since,” says General Manager Michael Wheeler. 

He says the live music venue has lost 95% of its revenue. In spite of those dramatic losses, he insists it's not appropriate to re-open. He’s still unsure when that might happen, but he says he's working to make it a safe space when it does.

“We’ll have sanitizing stations all over the place. We've improved our H/VAC and filtering. We're going to be encouraging masks, very much so. And possibly requiring them, depending on what the climate is when we do reopen,” he says.

Wheeler says there are several metrics he's following to make a final decision; new COVID cases, vaccination rates, and he's also weighing the nature of his own business model which sees large crowds in close proximity.

“It really creates an environment that is primed for this virus to spread. So, we haven't found a good way to open safely and still have that atmosphere and the field that we need in order for it to be a mohawk experience,” said Wheeler.

Since state leaders believe Texas is on the right track to overcome the pandemic the message has been that the lone star state is back in business but leaders like Wheeler aren’t yet buying it.

“Believe me, I want to get back to work. I want to rehire all of my employees, but I want to do that in a safe way. And I have to do it when I know that my employees are going to be safe, and I know that my guests are going to be safe,” he said.

There is a strong appetite for things to return to normal, but moving impulsively, according to Wheeler, is a gamble he’s not willing to take.