Posted on 05/02/2020 7:20:19 AM PDT by raccoonradio
NEWRY, Maine The co-owner of Sunday River Brewing Co. in Newry who defied state orders by opening his doors to diners on Friday afternoon has lost his state health and liquor licenses, he said.
Restaurants must obtain state heath licenses to legally serve food.
More than 150 people came to Sunday River Brewing Co. in Newry on Friday afternoon after co-owner Rick Savage announced Thursday night that he would reopen in defiance of state orders meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
After learning that hed lost the licenses around 4:30 p.m., Savage initially said he planned to keep operating the restaurant and just pay the daily fines that he would face. However, later in the evening, Sunday River Brewing Co. posted a Facebook post stating that the restaurant would be closed until further notice.
Frustration with the states coronavirus-related business restrictions has been growing in some circles, but the restaurants deliberate act of disobedience appeared to be the clearest example yet of those tensions boiling over in Maine.
Although the restaurant initially said it would open at 4 p.m., it started serving food after people showed up around noon in defiance of a March order from Gov. Janet Mills that barred dine-in restaurant service.
By 4:30 p.m., the crowd of diners lined up around the building on Route 2 had grown to a peak of around 150. By 6 p.m., the restaurant had served roughly 250 people, according to an employee.
Savage, who announced the restaurants opening on Fox News on Thursday night while criticizing the Democratic governor and reading her cellphone number on the air, said that he was not worried some of the diners coming from areas with more documented coronavirus cases would spread it in his restaurant.
That was partly because he was enforcing distancing guidelines that other businesses have adopted during the pandemic. If Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart can do 6-foot spacing and be open, then his restaurant could as well, he said.
I really dont believe it. I dont believe it at this point, he said, when asked if it might be dangerous to let those diners into the restaurant. Im not a medical expert. I serve food, you know.
As for the many diners standing less than 6 feet from each other while waiting for a seat, he said, I cant tell them where to stand and what to do. Were America. If they want to isolate, they can isolate.
Violating orders made under the governors emergency powers are punishable as a misdemeanor crime and the deputy director of the states liquor regulator said Savage could face a penalty if he opened to dine-in customers.
Where is Trump at? He hasn’t even mentioned Oregon’s Gov keeping her state in lockdown mode until July 6th! He has no problem throwing weight around when it comes to the Southern border and illegals, but on this issue...nada! The only Gov Trump went after was Kemp (a republican) for opening a little early. No criticism for any rat gov destroying their states and citizens! Just promises of more government stimulus.
And spare me the never Trumper drivel. Address what I said.
Yes I’ve always heard that Maine is dependent on summer tourism. I’ve never been there. Does Maine have any ski resorts or any winter tourism to speak of or is it all summer tourism that they depend on?
Enjoy your window into real socialism, America!
You’ll have hour chance to render your verdict on the 8-month experiment on Tuesday, November 3, 2020!
I don't agree with you. Comrade Governors are losing their grip more and more every day as people are discovering that the Bill of Rights means what is says. Hardly a win for Democrats.
The left in this state is destroying the lives of 1.4 million people, destroying the future of Mainers. All so that they can wipeout their political opposition, whether it be Trump of the conservatives in this state, shame on them. We’d better get organized quickly if we’re going to take back the legislature this fall and have some sort of counterweight to left’s power grab.
That is Tyranny!!
Are they winning?
Well not one rat/rino Governor has gotten an injunction to lift their outrages restrictions. Not one.
I dont blame him for staying quiet. Let the governors make the decisions. He was probably wrong to criticize kemp but I think that was more personal. Trump is not a dictator.
I purely hope and pray that EVERY American now understands the danger to their Liberty and FReedoms which occur as a direct result of voting Democrat!
Elections have consequences!
There ARE SERIOUS consequences when YOUR state Governor is a Democrat!
So, my FReeper FRiends, how much more evidence do we need to prove beyond the shadow of ANY doubt that Democrats are bad, stupid, detestable and annoying persons?
In addition, they are LIEberal, noxious and venomous!
The clear lesson: DONT VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AGAIN!
But yet Trump was very vocal on the decisions of Govs on the Southern border. Do you believe he should’ve “stayed quiet” about that as well?
Trump has directed his AG to go after governors and mayors whose actions defy the Constitutional rights of Americans. The AG has directed his people to compile evidence of such violations. This has begun.
When Americans file suits based on their Constitutional Rights being violated AG Barr is joining in those lawsuits with the citizens where the lawsuits have merit.
This has happened twice in the last couple of weeks.
There’s something in the Salt Water.
It is mostly summer and fall. Not much in winter.
Plenty of ski resorts and one of the most popular happens to be called Sunday River.
“The Dems are winning this.”
You couldn’t be more wrong. The country is opening up despite the Liberal thugs.
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3841043/posts
When you have to have a license to operate the licensing authority has the power to shut you down.
No, they're not.
People are waking up and seeing that Dem Governors and Mayors are the tyrannical nutjobs they accuse Trump and Republicans of being.
Trump brilliantly let this happen.
I heard Trump clarify what he was criticizing about Kemp’s opening.
He didn’t think it was prudent to open nail salons and tattoo parlors.
He had no problem with the rest.
“When your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail”
Savage was a nail sticking up...
What did they decide? Are you talking Texas Arizona and New Mexico? Not sure what you where you are going.
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