Fundraiser To Help Anne Arundel Restaurant Workers Launched

ANNAPOLIS, MD — As Anne Arundel restaurants battle in the courts to stay open, a fundraiser to help food service employees has been launched. On Thursday Gov. Larry Hogan ordered new, tighter limits on public gatherings in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Restaurants will remain open until at least Dec. 28 in Anne Arundel County, when Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge William Mulford will hear arguments to determine if the county executive can force restaurants to close. Hours before indoor dining was set to close, Mulford halted the mandate, and indoor dining may continue at 25 percent capacity and outdoor dining at 50 percent capacity until the case is settled.

"As you can imagine this is a tough time for restaurant employees not knowing if they have a job from one day to the next," said an email by the Annapolis Downtown Partnership. "If you would like to help these employees with getting holiday gifts or getting a gift card so they can purchase needed items click here."

Dozens of county restaurants have organized an online Gift Wish List so their employees can provide holiday gifts for their families. Click on the restaurant you’d like to support and select “Sign Up” for the gift you plan to purchase. Gift cards are listed for many so workers can purchase exactly what they need.

Through Dec. 23, you can drop off labeled, wrapped gifts at the location you selected. For more information email giving@seven12management.com.

Online donations can be made by clicking here. Organizers said all the money collected will be divided equally among all participating restaurants and will be delivered to each business on Dec. 23.

Among the restaurants shown participating in the donation drive are: Blackwall Hitch, Boatyard Bar & Grill, Brian Boru, Broadneck Grill & Cantina locations in Cape St. Claire and Edgewater, Carrol's Creek Cafe, Houlihan's, Light House Bistro, Pirate's Cove, Pusser's Caribbean Grill, all Rams Head locations, Yellowfin Steak & Fish House and more.

County Executive Steuart Pittman's order would have closed indoor service at bars and restaurants until Jan. 13. Pittman said he wanted to temporarily close these businesses because patrons can't wear masks when they are eating and drinking, which puts customers at a higher risk for catching the coronavirus.

Mulford disagreed and ruled the regulation put an unfair burden on restaurants compared to other industries.

Until the case has its final hearing, restaurants and bars must follow Pittman's previous coronavirus mandate. That means eateries may operate at 25 percent capacity indoors.

Outdoor dining may also continue. Businesses must limit this open-air service to 75 percent of the establishment's normal indoor capacity. Tables must be spaced, and the establishments have to close by 10 p.m. every night.

To help prevent an increase in the spread of the coronavirus over the winter holidays, Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday announced several executive orders including reducing the size of public gatherings. He said his theme was "home for the holidays," encouraging Marylanders to stay at home rather than gathering with those outside their households.

"This holiday season could present our toughest challenge yet," Hogan said at a news conference, noting the Thanksgiving holiday did not present as great a surge as was feared.

The Maryland Department of Health issued a public health advisory to lower the public gathering limit from 25 to 10, effective Thursday, Hogan said. Health officials also warn Marylanders against all nonessential activities and holiday gatherings with people outside their immediate households.

"We simply cannot afford to let our guard down over the holidays," Hogan said, calling it a "very critical time."

This story includes reporting by Editors Elizabeth Janney and Jacob Baumgart.