Lansdale Restaurants To 'Stand Against Tyranny' And Remain Open

LANSDALE, PA — Multiple restaurants in Lansdale and across Montgomery County have announced their intentions to remain open for indoor dining in defiance of the recent coronavirus mitigation orders handed down by Gov. Wolf.

With one establishment calling the move a "stand against tyranny," restaurants say the protest is an important demonstration of solidarity with a suffering industry.

"Our leaders have proven time and time again they are not here for us," Panico's Restaurant in Lansdale, one of the establishments which said they will continue to offer indoor dining, shared over the weekend. "We need to stand together against tyranny. Panico’s will remain open!"

Restaurants, as well as gyms and other facilities which remain open, may face penalties for their decision. A spokesperson for Gov. Wolf's office told Patch that the orders are legally enforceable and "have the force and effect of law."

"Sanctions and penalties for violation of the Orders will be progressive discipline that begins with a warning to any suspected violator," Lyndsay Kensinger, Gov. Wolf's Press Secretary, said in an email.

Local law enforcement agencies around the state were briefed on these enforcement policies by the Pennsylvania State Police. It is up to local police to determine whether they will "warn or cite" businesses for any violations.

While the state's approach to enforcement at the onset of the pandemic focused on personal responsibility and educating the public, the alarming increase in cases and rise in hospitalizations amid the fall surge has led to a renewed focus on ensuring orders are followed.

"Now, nine months into the pandemic, the commonwealth is reviewing its enforcement mechanisms and is prepared to take more strict enforcement actions on chronic violators because it is imperative that we save lives and protect the public by ensuring all necessary mitigation efforts are being followed," Kensinger added.

Gov. Wolf announced the temporary mitigation measures last week, which included closing indoor dining and gyms, limiting gatherings, and suspending youth and high school sports through Jan. 4.

"If you are someone who opposes this idea, that's fine," Panico's owner Mike Gazdik shared in a social media post. "But DO NOT take away the born Right to Choose."

Several other restaurants and bars in the county have made similar announcements regarding their intentions to flout the orders. East Greenville's Powderbourne Restaurant and sport shooting grounds emphasized that having the choice was the important takeaway.

"We truly appreciate the ongoing support and encouragement from the community and RESPECT the rights of EVERY citizen to make the best decisions for themselves and their families," the establishment shared over the weekend. "We have decided to remain OPEN for whatever dining experience YOU ARE comfortable with, whether its takeout, outdoor, inside or curbside."

For others, like Lansdale's Tigers Family Restaurant, the decision to continue to offer indoor dining was a matter of keeping the business alive, as winter approaches and outdoor dining becomes less and less feasible.

"We promise to be cautious and rigorous with our cleaning and mask wearing," the N. Broad Street restaurant said in a social media post Friday. "However, we will not survive another shutdown without the governor paying our bills."

Gov. Wolf has been publicly vocal in the past few days in urging U.S. Congress to pass the new COVID relief package which is currently under consideration.

"Giving Americans the help they need to survive this pandemic is the federal government’s job," Wolf said Monday. "We need more assistance for our frontline workers, small businesses, and schools — as well as funding to support a swift and successful vaccine distribution program."

Montgomery County restaurants are not alone. In nearby Bucks County, the owner of the Newtown Athletic Club announced last week plans to remain open.

State officials said that liquor control enforcement officers have conducted around 60,000 compliance checks across Pennsylvania since July 1. During that time frame, they issued 1,804 warnings and 403 notices of violation to businesses.

This article originally appeared on the Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch