OVIEDO, Fla. — When many business owners are just trying to hang on during the pandemic, Jay Mize's Irish 31 Pub House and Eatery is expanding into Central Florida.

“It’s literally day by day because there are so many things that we don’t control in these circumstances,” said Irish 31 owner Jay Mize.

Mize opened the first Irish 31 location in the Tampa area nearly a decade ago. 

With the grand opening this week of the Oviedo location, he now has seven of them.   

“We want to be the people’s pub for the city and the community of Oviedo,” Mize said. 

The Oviedo location was actually ready to open a few months ago. Then the coronavirus hit.  

“We’re just trying to react as best we can, really control what’s in our control,” Mize said. 

He went on to say opening a new restaurant is difficult on a good day, but during a pandemic …

“It’s certainly makes it more challenging,” Mize said. 

Bridget Lake, president of the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the community has rallied around local businesses and have stepped up to support them, but the last few months have been difficult. 

“We want our community to be safe. We want our businesses to be safe,” Lake said. “There are some businesses that are definitely struggling and there are some who really have the skill of adapting and pivoting during this time."

Lake said local entrepreneurs are forging ahead, opening up businesses in spite of the coronavirus pandemic — exactly what Mize is doing.   

“You either throw in the towel and give up or find a way and we choose to find a way,” he said. 

Mize said he hopes to eventually open up more locations in the Orlando area.​