Controversial Deep Ellum bar Bottled Blonde is now under investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission over allegedly violating Gov. Greg Abbott’s rules for restaurant operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Fox 4, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is looking into how Bottled Blonde has operated over the past few months after photos of the overcrowded space went viral on social media. Under its previous license classification, Bottled Blonde was considered a bar, but the perpetually packed Deep Ellum spot obtained an updated license that would allow it to operate as a restaurant back in July.

Right now, restaurants are allowed to operate at limited capacity, but multiple photos throughout the month of August depict Bottled Blonde with significant crowds of people — many of whom are not wearing masks — that appear to be in excess of the 50 percent capacity limit. Scope out a video of the madness below:

Back in May, when bars were briefly allowed to reopen at limited capacity, Bottled Blonde did not do a great job of managing the crowds or enforcing social distancing guidelines. Videos from the first weekend of reopening in late May look almost identical to those shot in August, when the restaurant was allegedly operating as a restaurant.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission reportedly plans to conduct inspections at Dallas restaurants in the coming days, which could result in liquor license suspensions for bars like Bottled Blonde that don’t follow the rules. In June, three DFW bars lost their liquor licenses for 30 days after failing to maintain capacity limits.

• TABC investigating Deep Ellum ‘restaurant’ for possibly not following COVID-19 protocols [Fox 4]
• Three DFW Bars Slapped With Liquor License Suspensions After Failing to Maintain Capacity Limits [EDFW]