DENVER (KDVR) – Nearly two-dozen businesses in Denver were cited this weekend for violating COVID-19 regulations, FOX31 has learned.
The enforcement comes after Mayor Michael Hancock promised a crackdown during his weekly news conference on Friday.
Problem Solvers has learned that 13 tickets were issued on Aug. 1 and 2, bringing the total to 50 since Safer-at-Home enforcement began. Two of those businesses that were ticketed, Welcome Inn and Your Mom’s House, were closed because of the violations.
“I asked them why. I was shocked by it. I thought there would be some kind of warning. (But) They came in here and shut us down,” James Bedwell, who co-owns Your Mom’s House, said.
The venue was cited for patrons not wearing face masks, a lack of social distancing and a D.J. performing too close to patrons. Owners are working on a plan to make corrections to get the place re-opened again as soon as possible.
Additionally, Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) has issued 12,529 warnings to date, including 995 specifically for mask-related issues since the beginning of Safer-At-Home.
DDPHE Executive Director Bob McDonald said, “We’re hoping its going to make a big impact. We need to not just insure compliance. We want to go after the bad actors so that we don’t have to shut down everything again.”
At the Retro Room, a citation where a measurement was a little more than one foot off – inspectors said there was not enough social distancing between bartenders and customers.
Retro’s owner said he’s fully cooperating with the inspectors and immediately took action to re-arrange spacing and is now in compliance.
The following businesses were ticketed during the first weekend of August:
- 8/2 — Welcome Inn (3659 Chestnut Pl) – ticketed, closure, and placard for violation of Public Health Order (PHO) and face covering order
- 8/2 — The Retro Room (2034 Larimer St) – ticketed for violation of PHO observed on 8/1
- 8/2 — Pedal Hopper (2265 Lawrence St) – ticketed for violation of PHO, previously ordered to not operate.
- 8/2 — Homegrown Tap and Dough (1001 S Gaylord St.) – ticketed for violation of face covering order by employees.
- 8/2 — Mecca Tavern (815 Federal Blvd) – ticketed for violation of PHO, patrons sitting at bar w/o 6 feet between parties.
- 8/1 — AT&T (1501 S Colorado Blvd) – ticketed for violation of face covering order by employee.
- 8/1 — Stranahans Whiskey (200 s Kalamath St) – ticketed for violation of face covering order by employees.
- 8/1 — Family Dollar (4701 Peoria St) – ticketed for violation of face covering order by employee
- 8/1 — 7-11 (380 e 17th St) – ticketed for violation of face covering order by employee. 2nd GV
- 8/1 — Salon Ocampo (1733 W Mississippi Ave) – ticketed for violation of face covering order and PHO
- 8/1 — Your Mom’s House (608 E 13th Ave) –ticketed, placards, and closure for violation of PHO and Face covering order.
- 8/1 — Urban Sombrero (16221 E 40th Ave) – ticketed for violations of face covering order by employees.
- 8/1 — The Squeeze (5395 48th Ave) – ticketed for violation of face covering by employee.
FOX31 has also learned that seven businesses were ticketed on Friday. Of these, PT’s Show Club on W Evans Avenue, PT’s Show Club on Gakena Street and Zanzibar on Larimer Street.
- 7/31 — Pt’s Show Club (1601 W Evans Ave) – ticketed, placard, and closure for violation of PHO and orders previously issued 7/30
- 7/31 — Qdoba (4955 S Ulster St) – Ticketed for violations of face coverings by employees.
- 7/31 – Pt’s Show Club (3480 S Galena St) – ticketed, placard, and closure for violation of PHO and orders previously issued 7/25
- 7/31 — Griffin Tavern (5062 s Syracuse) – ticketed for violation of face coverings by employees
- 7/31 — Tetra Lounge (3039 Walnut St) – ticketed for violation of face coverings by employees and patrons
- 7/31 — Zanzibar (2046 Larimer St)—ticketed, closure and placard for 10% of capacity not wearing mask, no social distancing, no seating system in place, and bar operating as normal.
- 7/31 – JD’s Bar (201 W 48th Ave) – ticketed for face covering violation by employees and alcohol service after 10pm.
FOX31 checked with the Tri-County Health Department, but no citations were written in Adams, Arapahoe or Douglas Counties.