San Clemente's Nomads Canteen Back In Business In Spite Of Virus

SAN CLEMENTE, CA —Eat. Surf. Sleep. That's the motto of Nomads Hotel and Canteen that specializes in "Surfer Soul Food." Now, they have become the face of defiance in Orange County.

After weeks of closure, and a strict seaside hand-slap by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, the San Clemente Mexican restaurant's owner, Jeff Gourley, allowed guests to dine on the patio and inside the restaurant, rather than just serving curbside to-go over the weekend. The decision to open the restaurant for inside service goes against the state order to delay such offerings.

Of the 3.2 million residents of Orange County, as of Sunday, 2,743 residents have tested positive for coronavirus. Almost 37,000 people have tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. 187 Orange County residents remain in the hospital due to the virus, and 58 of them are in the ICU, needing respirators to breathe.

In San Clemente, a city of 65,000 residents, 49 of them have tested positive for coronavirus.

While much of Orange County followed the governor's safer at home order to stay at home and avoid the beaches that he closed, some could not— and showed they would not — follow that lead.

Nomads Canteen laid out their plans on Facebook on Friday, inviting people to "take back your freedom, go for a surf, open your business, or have a cold beer with your friends," they wrote.

Residents weighed in over social media, both for and against the business reopening itself amid the global pandemic.

Resident Shawn Alan says he was on board with the opening, at least, at first.

"You sued the OC Supervisor's voted guidelines and rationale and claimed to be using all safety precautions," Alan wrote on Facebook, adding that he felt too many people were allowed inside the establishment. "You could lose your license for endangering all those people and the rest of the responsible citizens and businesses in our great city."

Others applauded Nomads for opening.

"We tried to come support you, but it was full!" Summer Reese weighed in on Facebook. "Thank you for leading the way for other small businesses."

Many mirrored that sentiment, though attention will remain on Orange county's coronavirus numbers over the coming days and weeks.

"You should probably change your name to the Second Wave Canteen," Don Nyal says.

The Orange County Register reported guests inside and out, hardly anyone wearing face masks, including the servers, as recommended by the Orange County Health Care Agency. Social distancing was in short supply, they said.

"I'm not forcing anyone to come here," Gorley told the Register. "If you don't feel the way we do, just stay home."

Local authorities have not made a move to shut Nomads, or other area businesses, down as of this report.

Orange County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun says that deputies stopped by Nomads after complaints on Friday, assisting the Orange County Health Care Agency.

"At this time, restaurant enforcement comes from the Health Care Agency, " she told Patch.

Nomads restaurant issued "a written warning" for operating outside the governor's order, and could lose its permit, according to Orange County Healthcare Spokeswoman Jessica Good.

Supervisor Michelle Steel says OC Health Care will rescind all threats against Nomads, so long as the facility complies with the Orange County guidelines for staying open for business.

Gourley says he removed tables, reducing capacity inside the restaurant. He also told the Register that he offered antibody tests to his employees, and gave them the option to return to work.

Just under half of his workers came back, he told the Register.

San Clemente Council member Gene James was not immune to the problems that businesses in his city are suffering. Risking his business license and food license shows the desperation that exists in the time of this coronavirus pandemic, the told the Register. He thinks that more businesses will follow in the wake Gourley has created.

The restaurant plans to remain open, Thursday through Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and return to regular hours once the statewide health order is lifted, they reported over social media.

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