When Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Jan. 13 Michigan restaurants would not be permitted to resume offering indoor dining on Jan. 15 Toast 'N Jams owner Mark Boertman was left in a difficult position.
Boertman already made preparations for his restaurant to ramp up from take out only to dine in service. Those plans included ordering the extra supplies needed to serve what he was expecting to be a rush of customers.
Instead of lifting the ban Whitmer extended the order until Feb. 1.
Boertman tells 13 ON YOUR SIDE executive orders impacting his restaurant caused him to throw out supplies twice already and he didn't want to do that for a third time.
It's why he resumed offering indoor service at the restaurant in Norton Shores Friday, Jan. 15, the date the ban was originally set to expire.
A post on the Toast 'N Jams Facebook informs customers the restaurant is, "now open for dine in clientele. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing."
Boertman declined an interview with 13 ON YOUR SIDE, only saying part of his decision was due to some employees depleting unemployment benefits and his concern for them and their ability to "feed their families."
The state's lifting of the ban on Feb. 1 is not set in stone, the decision depends on coronavirus data, "continuing to stabilize," the state said in a press release.
Boertman says Toast 'N Jams staff are following C.D.C. guidelines, doing extra sanitizing, and requiring customers to wear masks.
Violation of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order halting indoor service for Michigan restaurants is a misdemeanor that could result in a $200 fine or six months of jail time. DHHS may also impose $1,000 fines for each day a restaurant violates the order.
Kathy Moore, Director of Muskegon County Public Health tells 13 ON YOUR SIDE her staff are well aware of what's happening at Toast 'N Jams thanks in part to county residents calling and emailing the health department.
Some of the complaints filed with the health department include photos of customers being served inside the restaurant. Moore says public health is "assessing evidence of the violation," which is required by the state.
A report of the violation will be sent to DHHS in the coming days for review.
When DHHS does lift the indoor dining ban it's expected to continue with "mitigation measures" including capacity limits and a curfew on both restaurants and bars.
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