Local health authorities ordered closed a Colorado restaurant that opened for eat-in dining in violation of the governor’s COVID-19 orders.
C&C Breakfast & Korean Kitchen hosted a brunch crowd of hundreds on Mother’s Day as the restaurant advertised its defiance of Colorado’s COVID-19 order against in-person dining at restaurants.
The restaurant even tweeted at the President, saying that it was “standing for America, small businesses, the Constitution and against the overreach of our governor in Colorado!”
Video of the restaurant from Colorado Community Media’s Nick Puckett went viral, sparking outrage at the crowded conditions.
Happy Mother’s Day from C& C in Castle Rock, where the owner said this is almost double a normal Mother’s Day. pic.twitter.com/cPSzjmAfAg
— Nick Puckett (@nick__puckett) May 10, 2020
The Tri-County Health Department, the regional public health authority, said in a statement that it issued an order to close C&C at 12:30 p.m. local time Monday — “after warning the restaurant on Friday not to open and reminding them they are only allowed to do take-out and delivery.”
“The restaurant was ordered to close immediately and to remain closed until such time as the Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) determines the establishment is in compliance with the Public Health Order 20-28,” Tri-County Health said, referring to the state public health order barring “on-premises consumption” at restaurants and bars.
Gov. Jared Polis (D) said later Monday that C&C’s license would be suspended for at least 30 days — even if the suspension outlasts the public health order against reopening restaurants for eat-in dining.
“It’s unfortunate that the owners and the employees of C&C Coffee and Kitchen will have to suffer the economic loss of a prolonged closure when other restaurants across the state are likely opening and welcoming customers,” Polis said. “It’s really unfortunate that they’ll remain shuttered indefinitely until they can resolve the health hazard.”
And yet the restaurant remained open Monday, according to local reports, and it wasn’t clear whether or how the regional health authorities or the state would enforce its closure.
“I heard Polis ripped us a new one, I don’t know. I didn’t hear it,” C&C co-owner Jesse Arellano told NBC affiliate KUSA.
“I know they’re trying to punish us,” Arellano added. “They’re gonna try to make us an example, which is fine. We’re willing to accept that.”
Tri-County Health executive director John M. Douglas, Jr. said in a statement that it was “disheartening” that the restaurant had chosen to flaunt public health orders “and not even consider implementing best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
“It is not fair to the rest of the community and other business owners that are following Safer at Home and doing their part,” Douglas said. “We sincerely hope that C&C will choose to cooperate with the rules under which they are allowed to operate so we can lift this closure order.”
Hate to say it but 1) cue the martyrship on RWNJ sites and 2) count down to GoFundMe for the duration of the shut-down.
Of course, with any luck, enough of the loonies who were there are affected by the economic crisis to not be able to pack much $$ into the GoFundMe…
So Arellano are you going to step up and cover the funeral costs or healthcare costs of one of your patrons when they get sick or die?
The Dallas salon owner who opened against county guidelines also got $18,000 in PPP money. I wonder if they’ll make her pay it back?
Douglas County officials have been battling the stay at home order since the beginning. When their own health department suggested a stay-at-home order they suggested firing the health department (I believe it’s a contractor), with cries of “Unelected Bureaucrats”. That’s a local dog whistle.
Best quote:
These business “owners” are not going to have a going concern once the lock down ends. Douglas County is not a hard red area, it is red leaning suburban area south of Denver. Suburban voters are not going to endanger their health, and I doubt that they will feel safe eating at this restaurant. Sort of like lots of flyers are not going to be comfortable buying a ticket on United Airlines.