(KNSI) – The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office says a restaurant in Monticello that opened in defiance of Governor Tim Walz’s executive order banning indoor dining will give up its profits and comply with the state.
Cornerstone Cafe was one of many businesses that opened last month, ahead of the state’s timeline for in-person dining. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Cornerstone on December 18th, and on December 22nd, a Wright County court allowed the AG to hit the restaurant with a restraining order.
January 11th, the restaurant, and the state reached a settlement, resolving the lawsuit. It is, Cornerstone’s owners have agreed to pay $10,000 to the state, giving up the profits made while operating in violation of the order. They also agreed to fully comply with Executive Order 20-99, 20-103, “and all future executive orders pertaining to bars and restaurants.” The money collected goes to the state’s general operating fund and not to the Attorney General’s office.
Several bars and restaurants were caught serving customers for in person dining ahead of the January 11th date, allowing them to resume indoor dining. Many of them were hit with penalties and fines, and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka warned Ellison to stop penalizing businesses, saying for every fine he levies, that same amount will be taken out of the office’s budget.
According to a press release from the AG’s office, if Cornerstone violates any of the terms of the settlement, “it is liable for a civil penalty of $25,000 to the State of Minnesota.”
“I thank this establishment for agreeing to meet its responsibility to help all Minnesotans stop the spread of COVID-19 and congratulate it on rejoining the vast majority of Minnesota bars and restaurants that are already doing so,” Attorney General Ellison said. “It brings me no joy to bring enforcement actions because our top priority has always been education and voluntary compliance and enforcement has always been a last resort. Today’s settlement can be a sign to the very small handful of establishments that are violating the executive orders that compliance is still available to them.”
Minnesota bars and restaurants opened to 50% capacity for indoor dining on January 11th.
