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Four restaurants in Allegheny County were ordered to close on Tuesday for violating the latest restrictions in Governor Tom Wolf’s covid-19 pandemic.
As of Wednesday morning, none of them had closed.
Al’s Café in Bethel Park, David’s Diner in Springdale, Gianna Via in Whitehall and Il Pizzaiolo in Mt. Lebanon has been cited by the Allegheny County Health Department for providing meals inside and has been sentenced to be completely closed for seven days.
Wolf’s order, announced on December 10, suspended indoor dining statewide until January 4, along with other restrictions. But tension has been mounting among restaurateurs since the announcement, with a number openly defying the restrictions.
Wednesday morning – after the restaurant was ordered to close – David’s Diner posted a message on its Facebook page assuring customers it would still be open.
“WE WILL BE OPEN TODAY FROM 7:00 AM TO 1:00 PM,” the message read. “BREAKFAST ONLY. FOLKS WE ALWAYS FOLLOW ALL CDC GUIDELINES WE ARE AT 50% CAPACITY. Have a blessed day. “
By late morning, the dining room was operating at nearly 100% capacity, with at least 25 customers inside and waiting time for tables. On Monday, on its Facebook page, the restaurant said it would be open at “100% of its maximum capacity”.
“We are not provocative. We did everything that was asked of us, like everyone else, ”said owner David Speer in the crowded dining room. “This time around, if I didn’t keep my doors open, we would be bankrupt. Seriously, I’ll be bankrupt.
Speer said the county placed closing signs outside the restaurant, but the restaurant simply removed them. There was no other app to stop them from opening.
Indiana Township client Derek Morasco had to wait about 20 minutes with his friend Wednesday morning to get a table at David’s.
“It kills businesses and hurts small ones,” Morasco said of the state’s restrictions. “They have to reopen, and it’s better for the economy and also psychologically.”
Allegheny County Health Director Dr Debra Bogen said the county could go no further to impose business closures. The health ministry does not have the power to immediately shut down businesses that fail to comply, she said earlier this month – it can only order businesses to shut down and suspend permits operating. From there, it has to go through the court system for better enforcement.
On Wednesday, Bogen reiterated that the county could take legal action when health orders were challenged, and said it was important for people to recognize the risks of eating indoors.
“Nobody wants restaurants to close during this time of year except it’s really a challenge because of what we do in restaurants,” Bogen said Wednesday. “We take off our masks, we get closer to our friends and family, and we eat and drink. And we know that indoors, when you do that, you increase the risk of the virus spreading. “
Bogen added that even separating the six-foot tables is not enough to prevent the virus when people congregate inside without masks.
“Please don’t go to these restaurants,” she said. “Stay at home or make take out.”
Speer said he was not sure what kinds of repercussions could stem from his refusal to follow public health orders, but he “will deal with it when the time comes” and bring in lawyers if necessary.
Al’s Café is also still in business, with owner Rod Ambrogi saying the restaurant industry has been “targeted” by state restrictions and “enough is enough”. He said Wolf’s moratorium on indoor dining and the order to shut down the health department would do too much harm to his employees.
“I think it’s unfair, and I’ll probably have to pay later with some kind of penalty,” Ambrogi said. “But I am ready to fight it.”
Over the summer, Ambrogi led a coalition of area restaurateurs to form the Southwestern Pennsylvania Restaurant and Tavern Association, protesting the state’s restrictions on indoor dining.
Ambrogi added that he was following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, requiring masks and social distancing indoors. Al’s Café has been cited for organizing restaurants inside and removing the health department’s closure plaque, among other offenses. According to the ministry’s inspection report dated Tuesday, the restaurant had completely lowered its blinds and there was a constant flow of customers with full parking.
Ronald Molinaro, owner of Il Pizziolo, said the health department had launched a “campaign of intimidation” and said he believed there was no scientific evidence indicating an increased risk to wards. indoor dining. (Health experts have repeatedly said that transmission of the virus is much more likely in tight spaces indoors and in areas where people do not wear masks.)
Molinaro said he was determined to stay open and encouraged other business owners to follow his lead by defying orders from the governor and the health department.
“This restaurant will remain open no matter what,” Molinaro said. “The only way this place closes is if I’m dead.”
A person answering the phone at Gianna Via’s Wednesday said the restaurant was open but the owner was not available until this story was posted.
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