COLUMBUS, Ohio — Five Northeast Ohio establishments were cited Saturday night and early Sunday morning for violating the state’s COVID-19 health orders, according to the Ohio Investigative Unit.
Around 8:55 p.m., agents visited Waterbury Coach House in Lakewood after receiving a complaint.
Once at the restaurant, agents observed customers occupying consecutive seats at the bar with more customers standing behind others to order and no social distancing measures or barriers were in place, OIU said. Waterbury Coach House was issued a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity.
The restaurant had previously been cited for the same violation on Jan. 8.
Later Saturday night, agents visited Harvest Saloon in Strongsville after receiving a complaint and observed around 200 guests inside with a live band playing.
Agents observed little to no social distancing measures in place as guests were standing shoulder-to-shoulder throughout the venue. Most of the seats at the bar were occupied as numerous customers stood behind others to order and little to no physical barriers were in place to separate social groups, against said.
Harvest Saloon received a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity.
Early Sunday morning, OIU agents, assisted by the Parma Heights Police Department, visited two establishments in Parma Heights.
Around 12:50 a.m., agents and officers entered Rookies Sports Bar & Grill and observed around 200 customers inside with every seat at the bar occupied and more customers standing behind others attempting to order. Other customers were seen standing, moving freely and congregating throughout the establishment.
Rookies Sports Bar & Grill was cited for improper conduct – disorderly activity.
Then, around 1:10 a.m., agents and officers visited Sky Mediterranean following up on a case with the Parma Heights Police Department on Feb. 20 where officers were called to the premises for reports of a fight. In that incident, officers observed 200 to 300 customers inside with egregious violations of health orders. There were numerous fights and as a result, several surrounding police agencies had to be dispatched to assist.
As a result of that incident on Feb. 20, Sky Mediterranean was cited for improper conduct – disorderly activity.
The establishment had been cited numerous other times, including on Oct. 30, Nov. 13 and Dec. 18 for several different health order violations.
OIU agents also visited Colebrook Lounge in Orwell after agents and deputies from the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office observed customers closely congregating and occupying several consecutive seats at the bar with little to no social distancing measures or physician barriers in place.
Colebrook Lounge was cited for improper conduct – disorderly activity, insanitary conditions (fixtures, equipment, tables, counters, coolers/refrigerators, or utensils not clean or sanitary), and insanitary conditions (alcoholic beverages not maintained in potable condition).
All five establishments cited Saturday and Sunday will have their cases heard before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission and will face potential penalties, including fines and/or the suspension or revocation of their liquor permits.
