10 NJ Bars, Restaurants Broke COVID Rules In 2 Weeks: Officials

NEW JERSEY — State officials are continuing to crack down on businesses that have allegedly violated New Jersey's coronavirus executive orders, with 10 more receiving warnings in the last two weeks, according to authorities. Seven of these establishments were in South Jersey and the Jersey Shore. (see list below).

That news comes shortly after one bar in Wildwood had its license to serve alcohol suspended for the entire summer for repeatedly violating Gov. Phil Murphy's year-old executive order requiring bars and restaurants to prevent the spread of the disease, according to authorities. Read more: Wildwood's Shamrock Beef & Ale Bar Closed For Summer For Repeated COVID-19 Violations, AG Says

The actions come ahead of the state’s biggest reopening yet, when capacity limits at restaurants, stores, offices and other areas of life are set to be lifted by May 19. This includes the lifting of the prohibition on indoor bar-side seating.

Social distancing is still expected in bars, either with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 6-foot requirement or physical partitions. Read more here: 'Major' COVID Reopening In NJ: Here's What's Planned

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal has emphasized that the state will continue to target establishments that break the law and do little to prevent the virus from spreading – even as the number of vaccinations continues to grow and New Jersey's COVID-19 cases continue to drop.

Businesses are found to be in violation for not enforcing the use of face coverings and maintaining six feet of social distancing, as well as violating the indoor capacity limits. Those who commit repeated violations find themselves in danger of having their licenses revoked.

Over the previous three months, 44 establishments were cited, including 33 in February and early March and another 11 last month.

"We will not allow a small percentage of bars and restaurants that disregard mitigation measures to jeopardize public health," Grewal has said.

Over the course of several news conferences in the last two weeks, Col. Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of New Jersey State Police, identified 10 more establishments that have received warnings for violations:

• Breakers Kitchen and Tap in Waretown
• Black Dog - 7 Stools in Little Egg Harbor
• Klee's Bar and Grill in Seaside Heights
• Yesterday's Bar in Upper Township
• Tuckahoe Inn in Upper Township
• Levari's Seafood and American Grill in Upper Township
• Old City Pub in Wildwood
• The Deck at Holly Beach in Wildwood
• Firehouse Tavern in Wildwood
• Blue Water Grille in Wildwood

In addition to the businesses, Newark police responded to a private residence where it was estimated that there were 300 to 500 people, Callahan said on May 10. The homeowner was cited and issued a summons for a violation of the executive order.