Restaurant that defied state’s indoor dining ban gets short reprieve

Hundreds of supporters of Spiffy’s Restaurant in Chehalis arrived at the Lewis County courthouse just before judge was expected to decide on more penalties for the restaurant for failure to obey an order to remain closed to indoor dining.

“We’re fighting for our constitutional rights here and we would like you all to please stand with us,” general manager Rob Grant said in a post on Facebook.

The restaurant reopened to indoor dining, in defiance of Gov. Inslee’s COVID-19 safety orders.

“I’m just saying enough is enough,” said owner Rod Samuelson.

Though coronavirus is raging in Lewis County and he’s already racked up more than $114,000 in fines, Samuelson says he won’t stop seating customers inside.

“We don’t want anybody to get sick. I don’t agree restaurants are the cause of this virus being spread, I really don’t,” he said.

But Spiffy’s defiance drew the attention of Inslee earlier this month.

“We do need to have compliance and we will act accordingly to move toward compliance,” he said

Judge Chris Lanese approved a request today delay his ruling on a contempt of court charge because Spiffy’s new lawyer has been on the case less than a week. Judge Lanese made the made it clear that his order does not shut down the restaurant.

“Also permitted is customers coming into a restaurant to obtain food that they have ordered”

But he expects Spiffy’s to comply with his order to stop indoor dining-- or risk additional penalties for contempt of court.

“Which can result in fines or penalties of up to $2,000 per day which could include jail time, charges for a gross misdemeanor or other consequences.”

Inslee’s current orders are expected to expire on Jan. 4. That’s a day before the next court hearing in this case.

Cox Media Group