Alle-Kiski Valley restaurants continue to defy governor's order suspending indoor dining

David’s Diner co-owner Lisa Speer said Friday she will not close her restaurant to customers looking to dine in, despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to suspend indoor dining and recent visits from health officials looking to enforce the order.

Representatives of the Allegheny County Health Department stopped by the Springdale Township restaurant Thursday and again Friday during the busy lunch rush with plenty of customers inside, according to Speer.

“They said they were going to shut us down for seven days. They actually put a red sticker on our door that said ‘closed’ or something. I don’t even know because as soon as they put it up, I tore it right down,” Speer said.

“They said they will be stopping by (Saturday) just to see if we are open again,” Speer said.”And I said, ‘OK, I’ll be here.’ ”

Speer co-owns the restaurant with her husband, David, for whom the diner is named. She said she has no intention of losing the business that she expects to get on the weekend before Christmas.

“We have followed all the covid rules — the facial masks and all that other stuff, and the 6 feet apart, same with our counter,” Speer said. “There is nothing I am doing wrong here.”

Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs said restaurants that break the rules face fines and risk losing liquor licenses or permits.

Defying the order suspending indoor dining until Jan. 4 also “not only puts their business at risk, it puts at risk the lives of their customers and community,” she said.

“As (county health Director) Dr. Debra Bogen said on Wednesday, we are relying on business owners to do the right thing,” Downs said. “We are also relying on residents to patronize and support businesses that follow the rules and shun those that do not.”

Speer isn’t swayed by that.

“I’ll take them to court,” she said. “We are just running a business. We are running it correctly. There’s nothing we’re doing wrong, and I’m going to fight it. They can come with a sign. They can come with a warrant or whatever, but I stand by what I believe.”

David’s Diner is a popular eatery specializing in homemade food, especially burgers and sandwiches. Last June, Vice President Mike Pence stopped there for lunch during a campaign swing through the area and had a Reuben sandwich.

David’s not the only one

David’s Diner isn’t alone in defying the governor’s order.

Dob-Bros Country Kitchen in Kiski Township was served with an order to remain closed Friday by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services for continuing to allow indoor dining.

A manager confirmed the closure notice was received around 9 a.m., but declined further comment. The restaurant’s owners also declined to comment.

On Friday afternoon, about 12 people were seated at tables and booths inside the restaurant. Takeout is available, but five members of the Clark family said they preferred to dine in.

“I seek out small-business restaurants to support,” Amy Clark of Kittanning Township said, adding she backs restaurants that are defying the shutdown order.

“It’s ridiculous. I feel it’s your right as a taxpaying and voting citizen to go eat at a restaurant,” she said. “If I can go to Walmart or a big-box store or casino, then I should be able to sit down with my family and have a meal in a restaurant.”

Casinos also were ordered to close until Jan. 4 under the governor’s latest order.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Shannon Powers said the Bureau of Food Safety was closed late Friday afternoon and she could not provide details on the Dob-Bros matter.

Vernon Clark, 54, of Plumcreek Township, said he also opposes the governor’s order suspending indoor dining.

“It should be up to the person,” he said. “Enter (a restaurant) at your own risk. It’s America, right?”