Many restaurants defying indoor dining restrictions
‘We’re in dire need now for some kind of financial help ... so somebody’s got to stand up for their rights to try to make a living.’
Some restaurants are defying Gov. Tom Wolf’s latest restrictions on indoor dining to curb the coronavirus pandemic. About 40,000 people have followed a Facebook page dedicated to listing restaurants that are open for business as usual.
Nearly 40,000 people are following a new Facebook page containing a list of Pennsylvania restaurants refusing to close their dining rooms during the pandemic. Al’s Cafe in Bethel Park is on the list, and owner Rod Ambrogi says it’s simple:
“We’re in dire need now for some kind of financial help, which we’re not getting from the state or the [federal] government,” he said Monday. “So somebody’s got to stand up for their rights to try to make a living.”
He said his restaurant and employees can’t survive by serving take-out only.
“They’re worried about paying their rent or buying their children Christmas gifts. So we made the decision and the restaurant employees want to stay open, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m standing up for what I believe is right.”
The Pennsylvania Opening Businesses/Defying the Governor Facebook group was created Friday following Gov. Tom Wolf’s newest restrictions aimed at reducing soaring case counts of COVID19. The new rules, which expire Jan. 4, include a ban on indoor dining during the critical holiday season.
The Facebook page originally focused on Berks County before expanding statewide to list more than 200 open restaurants, fitness centers and other businesses.
Earlier this year, Al’s Cafe received assistance from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which Mr. Ambrogi said covered only eight weeks of his $18,000-perweek payroll. He also pointed to Mr. Wolf’s plan, announced in October, to waive liquor license fees. He called it “a slap in the face,” as the savings covered little of his overall expenses.
“We’ve had a hard time paying bills and going through 25% capacity, 50% capacity, back down to 25% capacity, no bar service, serving alcohol with a meal, all the things they’ve put us through,” Mr. Ambrogi said. “We’ve tried to talk
to the governor to get us some relief somehow.… Nobody’s helping us.”
Also on the Facebook list is Rough Cut Tavern & Hotel in Mount Pleasant Township in Washington County. The business posted an open letter to customers on its Facebook page, saying closing indoor dining would be “devastating” to employees and the business.
“The governor has made these decisions without taking the proper steps to involve elected legislature. Therefore, no laws will be broken by failing to comply with Gov. Wolf’s unethical order,” the letter said. “We will continue to operate business as usual, proceed to sanitize surfaces, and keep up with the current precautions we already have in place.”
The Bean Counter, a coffee shop and cafe in Murrysville, also remains open to dine-in customers. Manager and co- owner Amanda Reese said she couldn’t pay her rent if she closed.
“I’ve thought about [switching to takeout only], but if I do it, I won’t even make it by,” Ms. Reese said. “Being that I just opened Oct. 19, I literally just started getting my crowd in here. I figure if I boot them now when I finally just got them in here, I’m going to struggle to make it.
“Honestly, we’re taking every precaution possible. I don’t have many tables to begin with. I’m not a big coffee shop/cafe. They’re more distant here than they are at Walmart or Target or any of the big stores. So I don’t feel like any of my customers are truly in any more danger than any of the other places that are still open.”
Some of the restaurants on the Facebook list are abiding by the restrictions. Mama Rosa’s Restaurant & Bar in Butler Township announced online that the Butler County business was reverting to take-out only. A phone call confirmed the business will not have indoor dining until Jan. 4, pending the latest announcement from the government.
Meanwhile, Strip District restaurant and wine bar Savoy has experienced the consequences of ignoring state restrictions. After being shut down for parts of the last three months for flouting the governor’s orders on bars, Savoy was raided Friday by the state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.
Numerous complaints alleged the facility was operating without a valid liquor license, according to a police report. On Oct. 29, Savoy’s liquor license was rendered inactive following violations of an agreement the facility had with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Two undercover visits confirmed the illegal liquor sales.
On Friday night, police officers with a search warrant seized over 100 gallons of beer and approximately 1,035 liters of liquor and wine.