Restaurant Spurs Uproar and Risks Being Closed Down for Defying Virus Orders


The Apple Bistro in Placerville, a small town in Northern California, is refusing to obey El Dorado County orders to practice COVID-19 protocols, as the restaurant allows customers without masks to dine at the establishment. The sign in front of the Apple Bistro announces that social distancing is not practiced and that “oxygen deprivation” masks and “dirty germ spreader” gloves are not worn. The county claims there have been 50 complaints lodged against the diner since July 16. Many people have left negative reviews and complained on Yelp about the policy, but there also are many who are rallying to support the restaurant. -GEG

A Northern California restaurant has caused an uproar by dismissing county orders to practice COVID-19 safety protocols.

The sign in front of the Apple Bistro in Placerville warns that social distancing is not practiced and that “oxygen deprivation” masks and “dirty germ spreader” gloves are not worn. The policy comes with a clear message: “This may not be for you.”

The El Dorado County restaurant’s decision has stirred debate among longtime customers — both those who defend the business and others who have denounced their allegiance — on the restaurant’s Yelp page, which now includes an “unusual activity alert” label as the page has been flooded by posts with the recent news. Some claimed that they were denied service for wearing a mask, an allegation that the restaurant has denied.

“We don’t discriminate against anybody with masks. We give people a choice,” a female employee who did not identify herself said over the phone before hanging up. The restaurant did not respond to further inquiry via email, and attempts to reconnect by phone were met with a full voicemail inbox.

“No one has ever been asked to leave for wearing a mask, ever,” the restaurant states on Facebook. “We will not have vulgar posts, threats, or lies about us on our page attempting to ‘Cancel’ us. We furthermore will not allow people that are acting this way to continue to post on our page.”

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