A restaurant in Bethel, Maine has stated its intention to open its doors again this week, despite stay-at-home orders put in place as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
As per reports, the owner of the Sunday River Brewing Company told how his restaurant license had been pulled by the state when he reopened on Friday. His liquor license was also suspended automatically.
Rick Savage, the owner of the restaurant said: “You go to a big box store and there’s 150/200 people there and you come back and say, ‘I can do the same thing with distances with my decks and my patios and everything, why can’t I open up?’ But the states not looking on it as a case to case thing, [Gov. Mills] is just grouping everyone together and it’s a very small group of people making these decisions.”
Despite Governor Janet Mills having issued stay-at-home orders, hundreds of customers showed up to the Sunday River Brewing Company on Friday, before his license was suspended.
Now, in the wake of losing his license, Savage says he is fully intent on opening again, today, Tuesday, May 5.
Backlash online has, naturally, been divided, with many questioning why the restaurant are preparing to defy the regulations.
Savage, however, has insisted it’s not about his own business, but rather that he’s taking a stand for everyone else.
Gov. Mills said last week:
“We cannot flip a switch and open up all the restaurants, all the bars, all the souvenir shops and all the motels across the state to do business as usual and risk a more aggressive resurgence of this virus that will only sicken more people, destroy lives and devastate our entire economy for years to come.
“I believe strongly that the vast majority of business owners across Maine, though they are frustrated about being closed and concerned about their future, I believe that they share an unflagging commitment to keeping Maine people healthy.
“I ask them to stay the course. Continue talking, continue listening, continue being part of the solution.”
I’m not sure how I feel about restaurants and other businesses opening despite the continued orders issued by the state. What do you think? Let us know in the comments box.
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