Port Carbon Business Ordered to Close by State Ag Dept. Vows to Stay Open

A Port Carbon business refuses to cower before Gov. Tom Wolf.

Owners of The Port Bar and Grill said they won’t close despite being the latest Schuylkill County business to get a closure order from Dept. of Agriculture inspectors who say it violated COVID safety measures put in place over the last year.

According to information released this week, The Port Bar and Grill in Port Carbon received the order sometime between Feb. 22-28. It’s one of 5 businesses in Pennsylvania to get such an order during that time.

Last week, we reported on a similar order issued to Sunny Cupboard, alone Route 183 in Wayne Township. And that business, like The Port Bar and Grill, said it’ll continue to operate despite the order.

The Port Bar and Grill Not Backing Down on COVID Closure Order

In a message posted to the business’s Facebook page, owners say they’re not closing, despite the state order to do so.

“We are STILL OPEN and will continue to remain open,” the message reads. “We will continue to follow all laws, COVID guidelines are not laws. We will continue to serve our patrons in the same fashion we always have. As small businesses continue to struggle, we value taking care of our families, staff and their families the best we can during these trying times. We want to thank everyone for the overwhelming support you have given us. Without our great customers we would not be here at this time.”

https://www.facebook.com/theportbarandgrill/posts/239046367859833?__cft__[0]=AZWQe1bSpaDNX0qQlNYubRwi8GnZ0oaHzPdSN_sL5DdZSCaBMrq6pHWP6k2KPtrc_KCATwfkqEb57zAEZDu6ROqPzOAdHo0zd7EzKzYZidx4PKgif1-XOEdvWNg_aJ3AjnaQL4K9orn67VCx7uIJGMio&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

This business decided to take a stand back in December when the Wolf administration decided, without warning, to close in-person dining through the holiday season, typically a very busy time for the restaurant and bar industry.

Back then, the company said it couldn’t survive without deciding to defy the shutdown order.

“We have families to feed, and bills that need paid,” another social media message from The Port Bar and Grill reads. “We’ve been taking blow after blow and quite frankly, enough is enough! We’re not doing it to make people sick, we’re doing it to keep the roofs over our heads, and our children fed. We’re doing it to keep our employees families fed, we’re doing it because we will lose every single thing we invested in, and worked for. We will have NOTHING. We are NOT part of the problem. The problem is deciding who can and cannot stay open, box stores are still in business while we are left suffering. Picking and choosing who gets to thrive and who gets to suffer, THAT IS THE PROBLEM.”

Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Orders 5 More Restaurants to Close

In addition to The Port Bar and Grill, these other establishments got similar orders:

• Corner Stable, York
• Millersburger Hotel, Millersburg
• Windy Knoll Farm, Chambersburg
• Eagle’s Wind Coffee House, Shamokin Dam

ALSO READ:

• Even Though “No One Follows the Rules” Schuylkill COVID Positive Rate Drops to 7.9%
• Some States Going Back to Normal as Wolf Tries to Stretch Out the Pandemic
• Schuylkill County Volunteer Fire Company, Several More Businesses Cited for COVID Violations
• Wayne Twp. Restaurant Ordered to Close on COVID Violations – Plans to Stay Open

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