Several businesses in Montgomery County, Maryland, have been cited or closed for not following coronavirus reopening guidelines.
“I will reiterate what I’ve said before and about which I have been very clear: Businesses will stay open provided they follow the public health guidelines. If they choose to ignore public health guidance, we will shut them down,” Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement.
Cabana Hookah Lounge in Silver Spring was shut down because hookah bars are not included under the county’s Phase Two reopening guidance.
And Vibes Hookah Lounge in Rockville was issued a $500 fine for smoking, Montgomery County Health and Human Services spokeswoman Mary Anderson confirmed to WTOP in an email. The county had said in an earlier news release that the business was shut down.
“We will be working with the County Attorney to clarify any further action,” Anderson said.
Vibes Hookah Lounge owner Ahmed Kamel said that his business was not shut down, but that a health and human services officer only made a decision to disallow indoor hookah smoking. He said his business is open for retail and to-go service, and that his staff are following all required safety guidelines.
“We were never closed; we just had our operations limited,” Kamel said.
Kamel said he is taking the safety guidelines seriously.
The Palisades Lounge in Silver Spring was cited and closed for not maintaining customer social distancing, as well as for a liquor violation.
Elsewhere, the Grille at Flower Hill in Gaithersburg was reported for not following guidelines.
A health inspector visited the restaurant last Thursday following a report that employees were not wearing masks. The business received a verbal reminder about mask requirements, the county said, but over the weekend, there were again complaints about compliance.
The restaurant’s operating days are Thursday to Sunday, and a visit by an inspector will not take place until Thursday.
The owner of the restaurant wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post, “Let me be very clear…my staff will not wear face masks while working here at the Grille. If that bothers you then please dine elsewhere and please try to find something more important to occupy your time such as volunteer at a nursing home or soup kitchen,” WTOP news partner NBC Washington reported.
He said masks are uncomfortable to wear.
“As we receive complaints about businesses such as the Grille at Flower Hill in Gaithersburg for not following requirements for the wearing of face masks and keeping customers physically distanced, we will fully investigate each complaint,” County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said.
Business ambassadors have visited more than 1,900 businesses to provide education about reopening compliance.
“If we find that a business has been educated and continues to willfully ignore the requirements to safely reopen, we will use our legal authority to prohibit their operations until they comply,” Gayles said.
To find detailed information on which businesses may reopen and what businesses need to do to comply with current guidelines, visit Montgomery County’s website.
To report concerns about a business not following COVID-19 restrictions, email hhsmail@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 311.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information from Vibes Hookah Lounge and to correct the name of the establishment. It has also been updated with new information from Montgomery County Health and Human Services.
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