North Huntingdon restaurant defies closure ordered by state for covid-19 rule violation

A North Huntingdon restaurant was open for business Thursday despite an order to close over alleged violation of state rules meant to mitigate the spread of covid-19.

“We’ve been reported because people don’t have the mask,” Cenacolo Restaurant owner Steve Salvi said, referring to the face coverings the state requires be worn in restaurants except when patrons are seated for eating. “We’re being discriminated immensely about it.”

The state Department of Agriculture ordered the closure Wednesday after confirming a complaint the department received about the establishment, spokeswoman Shannon Powers said. Details of the complaint weren’t immediately available.

Some staff and customers at Cenacolo on Thursday were wearing masks, and some weren’t.

Salvi told the Tribune-Review he doesn’t enforce mask wearing in his restaurant.

“People are allowed to do what they want,” he said. “I’m not going to be the person to sit there and bully them.”

Salvi questioned the science behind the state’s covid-19 pandemic restrictions, which would limit him 25% capacity. The state does allow restaurants to increase to 50% indoor seating capacity for businesses that self-certify and agree to adhere to recommended mitigation efforts.

He suggested restaurants are being unfairly targeted and questioned why big box stores aren’t subject to the same restrictions.

Salvi said he isn’t concerned about potential legal repercussions for defying the closure order.

“I’ve had three lawyers contact me, wanting to go to court, and I’m 100% behind it,” he said. “I’m OK with going to court.”

The restaurant posted an image of the closure order on its Facebook page with a message reading: “We will not be shutting down and we will continue to stand against the tyranny of Governor Wolf & Richard Levine.”

Salvi called the governor and state health secretary “evil” and charged that “they’re trying to destroy this business, they’re trying to destroy our economy.”

Salvi said he doesn’t recognize the health secretary as a transgender female or her name, Dr. Rachel Levine. The restaurant’s Facebook reference to Levine drew rebukes from some commenters, who called it a sign of disrespect. There also was a mix of comments either decrying or supporting the restaurant’s defiance of covid-19 restrictions.

Last year, a Trafford councilman drew flak for posting a comment about Levine’s gender on the governor’s Facebook page, and a Scott Township commissioner resigned amid criticism after he referred publicly to Levine as “a guy dressed up like a woman.”

In a rare moment publicly addressing such attacks, Levine in July said she felt compelled to “personally respond to the multiple incidents of LGBTQ harassment and specifically transphobia directed at me that have been reported in the press.”

At that time, Levine continued:

“I want to emphasize that while these individuals may think they are only expressing their displeasure with me, they are in fact hurting the thousands of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians who suffer directly from these current demonstrations of harassment. Your actions perpetuate a spirit of intolerance and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals and specifically transgender individuals.”

Routinely at press conferences during the pandemic, Levine has stressed compliance with public health policies such as wearing face masks, maintaining social distance and washing hands.