Minnesota Attorney General’s Office Settles with Cafe that Violated COVID-19 Restrictions
The Cornerstone Café, a Monticello cafe, made the decision to remain open for indoor dining over the last couple of months, despite Governor Walz’s November 18 order prohibiting it. The cafe was one of several Minnesota restaurants and bars that refused to comply with the order. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has been in charge of enforcement actions against such restaurants.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office sued Cornerstone Café on December 18 and obtained a temporary restraining order against the cafe’s operations on December 22. According to the Cornerstone Café’s owner, he would still be defying the state’s COVID-19 restrictions if he had unlimited funds to do so.
However, faced with a struggling business and hefty fines, the owner decided to settle with the state. The settlement requires the Cornerstone Café to pay a $10,000 fine to the state, which were his profits from staying open, and to promise to fully comply with all current and future executive orders. If the cafe fails to comply with the terms of this settlement, the owner faces a civil penalty of $25,000.