Fort Lauderdale shuts down 7 businesses

Violators of rules set over COVID-19 crisis also fined

Waitresses without masks. Customers drinking at the bar. Bars pretending to be restaurants.

All three can and will get you in trouble these days in Broward County as coronavirus cases hit a meteoric rise in South Florida.

Just ask the staff at Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar on Las Olas, where the staff served up margaritas and other spirits long after happy hour on Friday night. That all changed when city code officers walked in and shut the place down for operating as a bar before Broward County has said bars and nightclubs can reopen.

Tommy Bahama was one of 18 businesses to get a surprise visit from Fort Lauderdale

code officers Friday night. Seven were caught violating rules aimed at stopping the spread of the potentially fatal coronavirus, according to code officials.

“We’re serious about this,” said Mayor Dean Trantalis, who accompanied code officers on the impromptu sweep. “We’re not messing around.”

Under a new countywide rule that kicked in Friday, restaurants caught breaking the rules can be fined up to $15,000 and face 24-hour shutdowns.

All seven businesses were shut down for at least

24 hours and issued fines. Six first-time violators were fined $250.

The biggest fine —

$15,000 — went to Piazza Italia because the restaurant had repeat violations, code officers said.

Code officers walked

into the restaurant and quickly noticed a problem: Patrons had been seated at high-top tables pushed up against the bar.

The owner pleaded with code officers not to hit him with a $15,000 fine.

“You can appeal the citation,” Williams told him. “If you win, you don’t have to pay anything. If you don’t, the magistrate can assess a full fine or a reduced fine.”

Over at Tommy Bahama, patrons were sipping cocktails with no food in sight.

A few customers, not happy to see code officers walk in, cursed at them and told them to let the place open.

Ignoring the taunts, Code Compliance Manager Porshia Williams asked the manager if he was running a bar or restaurant. He told her it was restaurant, so she asked to see his business tax license.

“You are a bar,” she said after looking it over. “We need you to close down right now. You’ll be shut down indefinitely until we move into the next phase and bars are allowed to open.”

The news that one of his favorite hangouts was being shut down infuriated customer Wayne Fleming. As he was leaving, he complained to the mayor.

“It wasn’t right to shut them down,” he said. “I know people are overreacting, but this is ridiculous.”

After the man drove off, Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel he was relieved to see most of the restaurants passed inspection.

“I’m happy to see how many places are stepping up to the plate and coming into compliance,” he said. “They’re really getting it. This is what’s going to keep infections low.”

Code officers had a checklist of requirements that 11 restaurants they visited did manage to meet.

Patrons and employees were wearing facial masks that covered both nose and mouth. They didn’t exceed the 50% occupancy rule. Patrons weren’t allowed to congregate at bars. Tables were at least 6 feet apart. And signs with COVID-19 guidelines were on display.

Businesses that passed inspection were YOLO, Big City Tavern, American Social, Loui Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria, El Camino, Red Door Asian Bistro & Hibachi, Casa Sensei, Hollywood Brewery, Macabi Havana Lounge, Café Europa, and Kaluz.

The following businesses were caught violating the rules Friday night:

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, 740 E. Las Olas Blvd., was shut down and fined $250 for operating as a bar.

Noodles Panini, 821 E. Las Olas Blvd., was fined

$250 for letting patrons congregate and drink at the bar.

Piazza Italia, 904 E. Las Olas Blvd., was fined

$15,000 and shut down for seating patrons at high-top tables pushed up to the bar.

Original Fat Cats, 320 SW Second St., was fined

$250 and shut down for having a big crowd and not enforcing social distancing. The restaurants also failed to post signs.

Poorhouse, 110 SW Third Ave., was fined $250 and shut down for having a big crowd and not enforcing social distancing.

Lucky’s Tavern, 214 SW Third Ave., was fined $250 and shut down for operating as a bar.

Café Del Mar, 101 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., was fined $250 and shut down because patrons weren’t wearing facial masks or social distancing. No signs were posted either.