LYNDEN, Wash. — A restaurant in Lynden has relented and is just serving take-out meals after receiving a court order you heard about yesterday on KGMI.
The Fairway Cafe had continued to offer indoor dining in defiance of the governor’s order amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
L&I spokesman Tim Church says the department issued an order for the restaurant to stop last week but the owner ignored it.
A restraining order was granted by Whatcom Superior Court earlier this week.
He says they’ve received 135 complaints about COVID-19 violations by The Fairway Cafe that prompted their investigation.
But he insists the department’s goal isn’t to issue citations or fines, saying “we want businesses to comply because it’s the right thing for their employees, it’s the right thing for the community.”
The Fairway Cafe has posted a statement challenging the idea that restaurants cause the virus to spread, supporting all businesses as essential and affirming their Christian faith.
A GoFundMe drive to support the cafe has raised over $15000 so far.
