Businesses respond to Columbus mask mandate
Everyone must cover up inside public buildings
Tired. Numb. Devastated. Those are some of the reactions from Columbus businesses following the announcement of the city’s reissued mask mandate on Wednesday. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther plans to sign an executive order on Friday that would require everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks inside publicly accessible buildings.
Business owners say they support the decision, but they are worried about enforcement.
Mikey’s Late Night Slice co-owner Jason Biundo said some customers took out their frustrations on his staff during the previous citywide and statewide mandates.
“We saw fights,” he said. “One of our employees was maced. We’ve had people put their hands on our bartenders. That’s what worries me is that coming back.”
But Biundo said Mikey’s, which includes restaurants Downtown and in the Arena District, will comply.
“We were expecting it,” he said of the executive order. “Hopefully this gets us through it. Who knows what’s coming next, but we’ll do our best.”
The city has said enforcement would be handled by Columbus Public Health
and not Columbus police. Complaints would need to be made by calling 311. The first complaint verified is a warning, the second results in a fine of $500, and the third is $1,000, according to Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Columbus Public Health Commissioner.
Other local municipalities are planning a similar mandate.
Columbus hasn't provided details regarding the removal of masks in eating and drinking establishments. Previous statewide orders required customers to be masked other than when seated, eating and drinking. For now, it seems that call will be left to the discretion of businesses.
“It'll be easy to fall back into that,” Biundo said. “Your mask can come off while you're sitting down and eating. You have to put it back on when you go to the bathroom. That's what makes sense, so that's what we'll do.”
Olde Oak owner Carolyn Maloney said she will have her staff take a “soft but firm” approach with patrons of the Olde Towne East establishment.
“Everyday, you're going to run into somebody who opposes it, and most people are just verbal about it. But we did have somebody get into a physical fight and crack our front door,” she said. “So it definitely does scare me quite a bit as far as enforcement goes.”
But Maloney said they will do what they have to do.
“It's been a tough year for everybody in the restaurant industry, between curfews and masks and seating capacities and hiring shortages,” she said. “So it does feel like a backwards step, but if it's actually a forwards step, then I'm all for it.”
Weinland's Market co-owner Jennifer Williams said she, too, is feeling fearful.
“It makes my stomach hurt when I think about it,” said Williams, who also is vice chair of operations on the Ohio Grocers Association board. “Our staff is not looking forward to it because of the previous issues we had with a small number of customers when there was a statewide mandate and a city mandate. At the same time, I think it's a good thing that the mayor did. It gives businesses some air cover to have something to cite versus us doing it as a private business.”
Williams said some of her staff at the Clintonville grocery store are willing to enforce the mandate, while others aren't feeling as comfortable.
“I'm not going to make (staff) who aren't up for it do it,” she said. “For people who are pro-business, then help us. Be a helper and help all of us get through this. Put a mask on, please.”
Kafe Kerouac owner Mike Heslop has been lucky; he said he hasn't had any issues with customers being angry about wearing masks in his bar and coffee shop north of the Ohio State University campus. He also said he was surprised to see the city reissue the mandate.
“I'm just going to go along with what I have to do and try not to get in trouble, and hopefully we can get through this again,” he said.
But Heslop has to contend with other challenges. Kafe Kerouac does quite a few poetry, music and comedy shows, and he said he is unsure how the performances will proceed with a mask mandate. The venue had stopped doing events under the previous mask mandate, but resumed them again mid-summer.
“You really can't wear a mask while performing,” he said.
Portia Yiamouyiannis said she honors the rights of individuals to make their own health decisions.
“We have always catered to the specific health needs of our customers,” said Yiamouyiannis, who owns Portia's Café and Portia's Diner in Clintonville. “Some are unable to wear masks and we do not discriminate against anyone, for any reason. Since we are not health care providers, we don't have the authority to enforce a medical intervention, and we are uncomfortable with being tasked to do so.”
Columbus Chamber of Commerce CEO Don Deperro said most of the organization's 2,100 business are private and not open to the public, and they appear to be excluded from the mandate — and he supports that distinction.
“As a chamber of commerce, our position is this should be left up to the individual business owner,” he said. “And we stand by that. We have great admiration for the mayor and city council. We understand their position. But especially for our smaller employers, we believe it should be an individual decision.”
Dispatch reporter Megan Henry contributed to this story. ethompson@dispatch.com @miss_ethompson