Colorado restaurant shut down for opening in-person dining

DENVER (AP) — A restaurant that opened for full service on Mother’s Day in defiance of state rules banning in-person dining was ordered closed and had its license suspended indefinitely by health officials Monday.

A video posted by Colorado Community Media showed people sitting at tables and waiting close together in line at the counter C&C Breakfast and Korean Kitchen while others lined up outside for a chance to get inside the eatery in Castle Rock about 30 miles (48 kilometres) south of Denver. Except for one person wearing a mask, the scene and the din of people talking appeared like just another busy day at any restaurant before the government limited eateries to all but takeout service to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that C&C Breakfast and Korean Kitchen “is causing an immediate health hazard,” and its business license will remain suspended until the restaurant is no longer a threat.

“We’re walking a tightrope between protecting all of our health and of course trying to grow our economy," he said. “It’s hard enough to walk without folks shaking the rope because of their own ideological or anti-scientific views, which they choose over the lives of our brothers and sisters.”

The Tri-County Health Department said if the owners refuse to comply, further legal action would be taken against the restaurant that could include the revocation of its license.

“It is disheartening that this restaurant has chosen to move ahead of the public orders and not even consider implementing best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is not fair to the rest of the community and other business owners that are following Safer at Home and doing their part," the department's executive director, John M. Douglas, Jr., said in a statement.

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