A Fredericksburg-area restauranteur that has defied Gov. Ralph Norham's order to limit the number of customers in his restaurant, and force them and his employees to wear masks, beat the state which tried to have him shut down.
Spotsylvania County Circuit Court Judge Richard Rigual denied the Virginia State Board of Health and the State Health Commissioner a temporary injunction that would have required Gourmeltz, a joint that sells grilled cheese sandwiches and craft beer, to close.
Gourmeltz is under fire from the Commonwealth after the Rappahannock Area Health District, which received over 20 complaints about the restaurants' lack of adherence to coronavirus protocols outlined by Northam in an executive order issued last year. These complaints included lack of social distancing, lack of wearing masks by staff and customers, and lack of disinfection of tables and surfaces.
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