County Closes Restaurants For Violating Reopening Restrictions

SILVER SPRING, MD — Several Montgomery County restaurants have been cited and shut down for not complying with coronavirus reopening restrictions.

Montgomery County officials listed four eateries that were closed over the holiday weekend: The Vibes Hookah Lounge, The Cabana Hookah Lounge, The Palisades Lounge, and The Grille at Flower Hill.

The Vibes Hookah Lounge, located at 1 Dawson Ave. in Rockville, shut down because hookah bars are not included in County Executive Marc Elrich's Phase 2 reopening guidance. County officials said they closed The Cabana Hookah Lounge, at 8227 Georgia Ave., for the same reason.

The Palisades Lounge, also located on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, was cited and shut down "for not maintaining appropriate physical distancing of customers and for a liquor violation," officials said in a statement. The establishment had been visited several times by county brand ambassadors and inspectors.

"We've had business ambassadors visit businesses to share reopening requirements, provide checklists and to answer questions and help as we can," Elrich said. "The overwhelming majority of our businesses are open, following rules intended to keep everyone safe and enthusiastic about being able to serve their customers and clients once again. I will reiterate what I've said before and about which I have been very clear: Businesses will stay open provided they follow the public health guidelines. If they choose to ignore public health guidance, we will shut them down."

The owner of The Grille at Flower Hill publicly announced that his staff would not wear masks while serving customers. The smokehouse — which operates Thursday through Sunday — was issued a warning after a customer complained.

The restaurant owner addressed the complaint on Facebook.

The now-deleted social media post read in part: "Let me be very clear...my staff will not wear face masks while working here at the Grille. If that bothers you then please dine elsewhere and please try to find something more important to occupy your time such as volunteer at a nursing home or soup kitchen. Whoever you are that filed the complaint, you need to take a good look in the mirror and try to find some real meaning in your life."

After issuing a warning about mask requirements, the county said it received more complaints over the weekend.

Officials said a health inspector will revisit The Grille after it reopens on Thursday.