The owners of a popular Clovis restaurant say they will fight a citation they received from the state last week for serving customers in their indoor dining room. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the shut down of indoor operations at restaurants as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across the state.

Julie and Scott Glenn are contacting state representatives, the California Restaurant Association and an attorney to fight a citation they received on July 10.

“There is no factual basis to say that restaurants have caused the spread of the virus. What I will say is that we’re continuing to take a stand.”–Julie Glenn, co-owner of House of JuJu

‘We’re Continuing to Take a Stand’

“There is no factual basis to say that restaurants have caused the spread of the virus,” Julie Glenn said by phone. “What I will say is that we’re continuing to take a stand.”

On July 1, Newsom ordered restaurants in Fresno and 18 other counties on the state’s COVID-19 watchlist to close their indoor dining spaces. On Monday, the order was expanded statewide.

So far, she says she’s received a large amount of support online and from the people she’s spoken to.

Restaurant was Cited by ABC ‘Strike Force’

Glenn said in a Facebook post that her restaurant was cited by what she calls a “strike force” from the state Friday afternoon. She says she was not on the premises and the person delivering the citation tried to serve it to one of her employees.

“Where does this make sense that these small businesses, all of us, should be shut down when we’re following more safety protocols than any other public place you’re going to go into?” Glenn asked.

“We have the right to protest, we have the right to speak out and freedom of speech, but we don’t have the right to run our business under the protocol. And that doesn’t, that doesn’t make sense,” says Glenn. “It’s very inconsistent. And that’s really what this is about for us.”

Glenn also posted a message to the community on the House of JuJu Facebook page.

Part of the post reads, “Wednesday July 1st the governor ordered all inside dining at restaurants in certain counties to close immediately including Fresno County in hopes to slow the virus. That same afternoon we shopped at a large department store and a home improvement store in which hundreds of strangers were shopping. We also watched on the news in LA thousands of protesters arm in arm blocking the freeways protesting for their cause. We believe there is an injustice to our freedoms to operate a business while protecting our community. We made the decision to take a stand for equal rights.”

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Luna’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

Another well-known eatery in in Old Town Clovis, Luna’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant was also cited on Friday for allowing indoor dining.

“I let a couple of old people sit inside out of the heat and bad air quality,” owner Bert Liberta said by phone. “I was cited by ABC for not obeying the (COVID-19) emergency act.” Liberta said it’s unfair for small businesses to compete when large retailers and other businesses remain fully open.

Like the Glenn’s citation, Liberta  must appear in court in September.

Luna’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant has been serving Italian meals since 1969. Instead of disobeying the governor’s order, Liberta says he’s now only doing takeout and to-go orders.

Other Restaurants Cited

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control sent a list of Central Valley restaurants cited from July 3 – July 5 to GV Wire℠ by email.

• Slicks — 1420 E. Tulare Ave. in Tulare cited for indoor operations.
• Downtown Rookies — 215 E. Main St. in Visalia cited for indoor operations.
• Crawdaddy’s — 333 E. Main St. in Visalia cited for indoor operations.
• Culichitown — 2700 W. Shaw Ave. in Fresno cited for indoor operations.
• Pismos of Fresno — 7937 N. Blackstone Ave. in  Fresno cited for indoor operations.
• Froggies Pub and Grill — 3232 Mooney Blvd. in Visalia cited indoor operations.
• Mariscos Camaron Pelado — 1517 E. El Monte Way in Dinuba cited for indoor operations.