CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The Waters Edge Winery and Bistro in Centennial will be allowed to stay open despite an earlier order from the Tri-County Health Department to shut down.
Health officials said they ignored multiple warnings that it was violating public health orders and ordered the business to close on Thursday.
“Despite verbal and written warning, the winery continued to operate in a manner that violates the Public Health Orders and letting patrons sit at tables on the patio and not complying with social distancing requirements,” a news release from the Tri-County Health Department reads.
The restaurant at 2101 E. Arapahoe Road – just across the street from the Streets at Southglenn – received the order from the Tri-County Health Department on Thursday. It was told to close immediately.
However, on Friday, the health department said they had been working with the owner of the winery over the last 24 hours and were assured by the owners they would comply with all health orders.
“We appreciate the rapid cooperation of Waters Edge Winery in complying with the relevant Public Health Orders. Our goal is to help everyone in our community, both residents and businesses, get back to the highest level of normalcy we can achieve with COVID-19 in a safe and healthy manner. It will take every one of us following the guidelines and all of the prevention measures to fight COVID-19 and safely reopen our economy,” said John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department.
“It is critical that we all continue to social distance, wash our hands often, wear masks when out in public and stay home and away from others if you have symptoms such as Fever OR — Cough OR sore throat OR shortness of breath. — Other additional symptoms that could be early signs of infection include body aches, chills, and new loss of sense of smell.”
“We have chosen to temporarily close our doors as we work to determine what our next steps are, as they have threatened us with imprisonment for exercising our Freedom,” the Facebook post reads. “We are humbled by all of the outpouring of support and love we have received for so many of our favorite people during these trying times. We will reopen. That is our pledge.”
In a live video on Friday, they said they had met with the health department and planned to reopen on Saturday but with on curbside pickup options. They also said they were working with their attorney to pursue options to allow them to fully reopen.
Restaurants in Colorado have been closed to in-person service since March 19, but they have still been allowed to operate for takeout and delivery.
Arapahoe County remains under the Tri-County Health Department’s stay-at-home order through May 8. The safer-at-home order that will follow does not yet allow for in-person dining in restaurants.
Ninety-one percent of Colorado restaurant operators said they have laid off or furloughed employees since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in March, according to results from a Colorado Restaurant Association survey; 21% of operators anticipate laying off or furloughing additional employees during the next 30 days.
Polis said his office is working on a framework for allowing restaurants to reopen, but did not say when it could happen.
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