Fairfield Restaurant Shut Down Due To Coronavirus Violations: PD

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield bar and restaurant was shut down by authorities over the weekend after the business violated state orders related to mask use and capacity limits in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, police said.

Law enforcement and health department officials responded to the Brickyard Pub at 93 Post Road at about 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to Fairfield police. Authorities saw about 50 people standing outside the pub, many of whom were not wearing masks, police said Saturday in a news release. Inside, the crowd exceeded the 75 percent capacity limit of 112 people, police said.

“The majority of the patrons observed within Brickyard Pub were found to be gathered at the bar and were found not to be wearing face masks,” police said.

The business was ordered to close until Monday and owner Jennifer Lynn Wilson, of Easton, was fined for executive order violations regarding face covering and gathering size restrictions, according to police.

In an interview Sunday, Wilson took issue with how officials handled the situation.

“They had a point of view, and they walked in the door, and they were upset there were people outside,” Wilson said.

The pub had six doormen Friday working to keep the building at 75 percent capacity and ensure customers stayed seated, according to Wilson, who added the restaurant was open only to sit-down customers with reservations. The business was trying to enforce a “sit down or get out policy,” she said.

“It’s a lot easier said than it is done when you’re a popular place,” Wilson said.

Police and health authorities did not do a headcount Friday, Wilson said, to which Lt. Antonio Granata responded that the police department had no comment.

“I’m upset because I feel as though I was trying to control it, I was doing a good job of controlling it,” Wilson said. “I feel like we’re being painted as negligent and that’s the furthest from how I run the place.”

Officials had received numerous complaints in recent weeks about Wilson’s business, according to police, including that the restaurant was violating noise ordinances, that occupants weren’t wearing face masks and that large crowds were exceeding pandemic limits.

Wilson said she had been working with authorities to ensure compliance with the rules, and that she intended Sunday to write a plan for the health department before reopening Monday. One major change the restaurant will make is preventing customers who already have a table tab open from starting a bar tab.

“I need to build in some controls within the operation to make sure that can’t happen again,” she said. “It’s a constant state of cross-checking things.”

The closure of Brickyard Pub on Friday followed Fairfield's placement Thursday on Connecticut's "red alert" list for coronavirus infections. The red alert designation applies to municipalities with a two-week average daily case rate above 15 cases per 100,000 people.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick in Saturday’s police news release addressed the importance of businesses following pandemic policies.

“Fairfield business owners are working very hard to stay afloat while complying with the sector rules,” she said. “It’s very important that everyone does their part to protect the health of our community. The irresponsible actions of a few can have an impact on the entire town and other local businesses. We’re all in this together, wear a mask, follow the rules.”

Rob Guerrera, assistant director of health for environmental health, expressed a similar sentiment.

“It is imperative that all establishments follow their sector reopen guidelines and all of the Governors Executive Orders, as this helps to ensure the health and safety of all Fairfield residents,” he said in the news release.