Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says his executive order that prohibits indoor seating at restaurants and bars has the weight of the state supreme court with the guidelines to undergo continual monitoring.
Beshear says there is very little wiggle room for those restaurants that choose to go against the order and serve people inside their establishments.
click to download audioBeshear’s emergency order barring restaurants from offering indoor seating service took effect Friday and continues through December 13. Several restaurants, including some in western Kentucky, said they would not adhere to the latest restrictions.
The owners of the Traveler’s Lantern and Café in Trenton held a pizza dinner at their restaurant Friday night, opening their doors to the public after the governor’s executive order went into effect at 5 pm, saying they “are going to stand with other patriotic restaurant owners across the commonwealth”
They also took to Facebook to thank Todd County law enforcement and the health department for not enforcing the current mask mandate for businesses.
Todd County Health Department Director Jen Harris told the Todd County Standard newspaper Saturday that they have no choice but to enforce Governor Andy Beshear’s executive order.
The Trenton restaurant is one of several in western Kentucky that are refusing to close their doors to indoor seating.
Popi’s Restaurant in Draffenville made a social media statement Friday indicating they were going to stay open while taking extra precautionary measures for sanitization.
A statement on the restaurant’s Facebook page Monday said “state authorities” showed up and made them close their indoor seating. The restaurant, in the former Majestic Steak House location on U.S. 68, said they will offer heated patio and tent seating, which is allowed by the state’s guidelines.
Restaurants in Graves and Crittenden counties also announced over the weekend they were keeping their indoor dining areas open.
Beshear said he is hoping people won’t cheat the new guidelines so that the three-week period doesn’t last longer.
click to download audioBeshear said the state is also monitoring restaurants that have erected portable tents with seating to see how that meets the guidelines.
The state is offering a $40 million aid package to help locally owned restaurants and bars. Several restaurant owners say it won’t be enough to help.
Beshear said the false equivalencies involving restaurant restrictions aren’t helping to make things better.
click to download audioThe Kentucky Restaurant Association said the next three weeks will be “very challenging for our hanging-on-by-a-string restaurants.”