A restaurant in Washington, D.C., that was shut down due to repeated violations of the district’s vaccine and mask mandates reopened Friday, exactly two months after the health department closed its doors.
The reopening ties a bow on the monthslong series of legal battles that ended earlier this month when the city government reinstated the Big Board’s liquor and business licenses. The specialty burger shop and pub had become a poster child of sorts in the fight against COVID-19 rules as the business got shuttered but also managed to keep its staff employed.
“Thanks to everyone who has supported [us] over the last few months and all the years, and with eternal gratitude to the buckeye institute for representing us,” the Big Board said in a tweet. “We are happy to announce The Big Board is re-opening today at 5pm. Everyone is welcome.”
‘NOT CONTROVERSIAL’: SHUTTERED DC RESTAURANT BECOMES RELUCTANT POLITICAL FOOTBALL
The bar was reluctantly dragged into the political fight in January after Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted a vaccine mandate for businesses, requiring employees to verify patrons’ vaccination statuses before allowing them to enter.
Within a week of the mandate going into effect, the bar racked up a number of verbal and written warnings, as well as hefty fines, for not requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination before entering. Just over a week later, the D.C. Health Department issued a closure notice citing multiple code violations unrelated to COVID-19 mandates.
“Mr. Flannery’s restaurant never should have been shut down in the first place, and his case shows the devastating impact that government overreach has upon small businesses — owners and employees alike,” said Robert Alt, the president of The Buckeye Institute and the lawyer representing Big Board co-owner Eric Flannery.
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However, after nearly two months of jumping through political hoops, the bar had both licenses reinstated and announced it would reopen as soon as it could resupply its stock.
The Big Board had garnered national attention for its noncompliance with the district’s mandates. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and several other Republican members of Congress showed up at the restaurant to support the establishment just hours after it was given a shutdown notice. Other groups organized online fundraising efforts that helped Flannery continue paying his employees until he could reopen.
