Gov. Tim Walz is expected to decide by Monday if Minnesota restaurants stay shuttered for indoor dining, but some local restaurateurs aren't waiting for official word.
They're taking matters into their own hands.
A Facebook group has sprung up and said more than 150 local businesses attended their recent Zoom meeting where organizers vowed that even if the shutdown continues, they'll open up.
"The initial response has been good and we now move into the recruitment phase to get the word out across this state," the Facebook page admin wrote. "If you own a business currently shut down, join us! The governor has shown little concern for those suffering most from the effects of his poor leadership, so it is up to us to care for them."
Their plan is for all rural businesses to reopen by Dec. 16 and all metro to open Friday, Dec. 18. Organizers said businesses in 12 counties signed on to the plan, including restaurants, bars and gyms.
"We will be faithful customers of any business in our area that participates...not just until this blows over, but in the future as well!!" Brian Benedict wrote on Facebook. "Take a stand for all of us! We'll have your backs!!!"
Not everyone has endorsed the effort, however. Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern weighed in on a group thread with 300 of the local restaurant owners and he urged them to reconsider.
"I believe in so many of our common goals, the ones we are all trying to achieve," Zimmern emailed to the group. "Keeping our businesses afloat, feeding our families and protecting the public health. I believe the quickest path to relief for all is not to reopen our doors unless done sensibly." He added the defying public health orders to shut down could cause patrons to lose confidence in their restaurants.
Meanwhile, political insider Blois Olson told WCCO Friday that he expects the governor to reopen gyms and issue new guidelines for youth sports, but reopening dates are yet unknown. This comes as a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court claiming that Walz's shutdown is "not based on science" and uses favored, relaxed criteria for collegiate and pro sports to continue playing while youth sports are shut down.
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The Reopen Minnesota Facebook group was founded by Darius Teichroew, a mechanical engineer from Maple Grove, who told a local media source he had planned this same kind of "civil disobedience" this summer, but stopped when Walz lifted restrictions in June.
"Now we're just back to square one," Teichroew told food and dining blog FOODIE "We are trying to appeal to people to stand up against the capricious and arbitrary whims of our leaders."
The move to reopen comes as Minnesota Department of Health reported 89 deaths from COVID-19 on Thusrday with 3,523 new COVID-19 cases.