12 feet Lauderdale restaurants and bars violate coronavirus rules

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A total of 12 companies received subpoenas in a weekend sweep by Fort Lauderdale code enforcement officials who checked restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights to make sure the coronavirus rules were followed.

On Friday night, seven businesses were cited, with six closings for 24 hours; On Saturday, five received subpoena orders and four were closed.

On Friday night, Piazza Italia, 904 E. Las Olas Blvd., was fined $ 15,000 for repeated infractions. The restaurant was reopened on Saturday after a compliance follow-up visit.

On Saturday, the Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar, 4040 Galt Ocean Drive, was fined $ 15,000 for breach of a previous closing order.

The Italian restaurant Spazio, 239 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., was another of the businesses that closed on Saturday. He was fined $ 500 for a repeated violation.

Fort Lauderdale Code Compliance Officer Manny Garcia said: “There are overlapping boards at the top of the bar. They are not supposed to be installed that way.”

While some customers welcomed the app, others were visibly upset.

On Friday night, when the Tommy Bahama Marlins bar on Las Olas Boulevard was ordered closed, a woman told Local 10: “Suddenly we can’t even have a cocktail? I’m not even close to anyone. This is getting out of control. “

But Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said it is for the public good. “The goal of this is to create safe environments for people to feel comfortable going out of business.”

The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Community Improvement and Compliance Division announced Friday that they were going to conduct what they said were “unscheduled compliance checks” on companies throughout the weekend. They promised to crack down on the companies until 2 am each night.

“We will seek to ensure that no one exceeds 50 percent of maximum occupancy in the building,” said Porshia Williams, manager of Fort Lauderdale Code Compliance. Other compliant issues that, if not followed, could mean a fine and a shutdown were: customers who do not congregate in bars, tables separated by at least six feet, signs with COVID guidelines are displayed, and the companies they operate were approved. for Phase 1 of the reopening of the city.

As of Friday, a county-wide rule went into effect that any business owner who does not follow compliance rules could be found from $ 250 to $ 15,000 for repeat offenders. Some are ordered to close for 24 hours until they can make changes to comply.

In violation

Saturday

27 bar and lounge, 835 NE 3rd Ave., $ 250 fine, closing, not imposing social distancing or facial coverage, use of the bar area.

Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar, 4040 Galt Ocean Drive, $ 15,000 fine, closing, breach of previous closing order.

Casablanca Café, 3049 Alhambra St., $ 250 fine, closing, exceeding maximum capacity, not imposing social distancing, and customers eating and drinking at the bar.

Luigi’s Tuscan Grill, 1105 E. Las Olas Blvd., $ 250 fine, not closed, tables set up in the bar with seating.

Italian restaurant Spazio, 239 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., $ 500 fine, closure, repeated violation, Tables gathered at the bar and not forcing facial covers.

Friday

Piazza Italia 904 E. Las Olas Blvd., $ 15,000 fine, closing. Repeat violations.

Café del Mar, 101 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach, Boulevard, $ 250 fine and closing. Without using facials, without social distancing, without posters.

Lucky Tavern, 214 SW 3rd Ave., $ 250 fine, closed, operating as a bar. The bar establishment cannot open during Phase 1.

Panini noodles, 821 E. Las Olas Blvd., $ 250 fine, non-closing, using the bar area, allowing patrons to drink at the bar.

Original Fat Cats, 320 SW 2nd St., $ 250 fine and closing. Large crowd, without social distance, without signage.

Hospice, 110 SW 3rd Ave., $ 250 fine, closing. Large crowd, without social distance, without signage.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, 740 E. Las Olas Blvd., $ 250 fine, closed, operating as a bar. The bar establishment is not open during Phase 1.