Cafe cited for serving dine-in customers despite warnings, North Carolina police say
Police in Asheville, North Carolina, say they went to a cafe several times over the weekend after complaints of people dining in the restaurant.
On Monday morning, police said they went back to Rise ‘n Shine Cafe and issued a citation to the restaurant because of “persistent non-compliance to the public health order.”
A woman who answered the phone at Rise ‘n Shine Monday afternoon told McClatchy News they were not allowed to talk about the citation.
Police said they had three complaints over the weekend from the community about the cafe allowing people to dine in, a violation of local and state orders closing restaurant dining rooms during the coronavirus pandemic.
Officers went out to the restaurant Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, police said, they saw people dining in the popular Merrimon Avenue breakfast spot and gave the cafe a verbal warning. Officers cited the restaurant when they went back again Monday morning, the department said.
“It is not our intent to criminalize those who do not comply, but rather educate individuals on the intent of the order with a warning or advisement. However, if the behavior persists APD will consider the use of citations to gain compliance,” police said.
North Carolina has recently entered Phase 1 of its reopening plan, but restaurants are only allowed to do take out and delivery service. The state’s Phase 2 plan will allow bars and restaurants to open with limited seating capacity as soon as this week, according to The News and Observer.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Cafe cited for serving dine-in customers despite warnings, North Carolina police say."
