COLUMBUS, Ohio — State authorities have cited two more Northeast Ohio bars for violating COVID-19 health orders Saturday night.
Agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit caught the bars, both in Cuyahoga County, either ignoring social distancing protocols or serving alcohol past 10 p.m. The establishments involved are:
- Tavern Off Broadway, Bedford: OIU agents and Bedford police officers arrived on scene around 11:30 p.m. and witnessed "evidence" of the continued sale of alcohol along with "attempts to conceal the activity." Citation issued for limitation on hours for sales and on-premises consumption.
- Vivid Cocktail Lounge, Maple Heights: Officials visited after complaints from residents and the local health department and found 60-70 customers "tightly packed" and "shoulder-to-shoulder" with no efforts to socially distance. Citation issued for improper conduct - disorderly activity.
Both cases will now go before the Ohio Liquor Control commission, where the the restaurants face penalties as severe as revocation of their liquor licenses. Highland Tavern in Akron already had its liquor license revoked after repeated rules violations.
OIU Enforcement Commander Eric Wolf issued the following statement:
"We continue to see that most of the permit premises are following the precautions put in place to make their establishments safe and they are complying with the directives. As agents continue to conduct compliance checks they take enforcement action when egregious violations like these are observed."