RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Five of seven Richmond restaurants forced to shut down after violating the state’s COVID-19 guidelines have since reopened.
Richmond Henrico Health District revoked the permits of seven restaurants in the city accused of not following coronavirus restrictions:
- City Beach, 2416 W Cary St, Richmond
- Daddy Rabbits, 3206 E Broad Rock Rd, Richmond
- La Caverna Restaurant & Night Club, 5310 Hull Street Rd H, Richmond
- Good Tymes WineBar & Restaurant, 2030 Chamberlayne Ave, Richmond
- Main Stage, 112 N 5th St, Richmond
- Sine Irish Pub, 1327 E Cary St, Richmond
- Escapate Bar & Lounge, 5735 Hull Street Rd, Richmond
The health department adds that suspended permits were the result of immediate threats to the public.
According to Dr. Danny Avula, Richmond and Henrico Health District Director, a couple of the restaurants that were suspended pulled together their corrective plan within 24 hours and the department’s team re-inspected Friday afternoon and lifted the suspensions.
8News stopped by each spot.
Daddy Rabbit’s on East Broad Rock Road is back open for business.
La Caverna on Hull Street has reopened as well. When 8News walked in, no employees or patrons were wearing masks. At the time, employees said no manager was available to speak.
8News then drove to Escapate on Hull Street. The manager later called our crew and said the restaurant is back open after fixing issues. The on-duty manager at Sine Irish Pub echoed the same sentiments, saying that the restaurant was operational and following guidelines.
However, some restaurants remains closed.
A sign on the door of City Beach read that the Richmond-area bar is currently renovating their restaurant to be in compliance with Governor Ralph Northam’s Executive Orders for COVID-19.
Afterwards, 8News knocked on the door of Main Stage on North 5th Street. No one was inside.
Lastly, 8News visited Good Tymes on Chamberlayne Avenue. An employee said the business was back open after installing social distancing markers on the floor and additional sanitation.
CJ Bland spoke with 8News and says he was surprised to hear the restaurant wasn’t in compliance.
“They must’ve caught them on a bad night because they do it for the most time,” Bland said. “They feel very safe in there. Not all spots, but this place I definitely feel safe in.”
Customers like Dominic Matthews say they’re just happy to have a sense of normalcy.
“It feels a whole lot different than when this all began because you couldn’t go anywhere, couldn’t do anything,” Matthews said. “You’re stuck in the house, you’re looking at the walls and you’re going stir crazy.”
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