Atlanta, GA – George State Police have reportedly shut down 2 Chainz’s restaurant in Atlanta. According to TMZ, the Grammy Award-winning rapper’s Escobar Restaurant & Tapas spot was closed on Monday night (May 25) for violating COVID-19 guidelines.
The police report states as officers drove by, they “noticed that the location was rather loud, busy, and occupied to be operating as a restaurant at that time of night.” Upon closer inspection, patrons were discovered dancing, ordering bottle service and smoking a hookah without the 6-feet of required social distancing. At one point in the evening, a long line start forming outside the entrance.
Police reportedly “spoke to the manager before shutting the location down as it was violating executive orders regarding protocol issued due to COVID-19.”
An Instagram post for the Memorial Day Weekend event clearly stated, “Social distancing policies in place,” but staff evidently had trouble enforcing those policies.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a hefty set of 39 guidelines for dine-in service late last month. As reported by the Eater Atlanta, those included allowing only 10 patrons per 500 square feet in dining room, waiting area, bar area, no self-service drink, utensil, or condiment stations and limiting parties to no more than six people per table.
2 Chainz Postpones Atlanta Restaurant Reopening & Donates To Homeless Instead
2 Chainz initially said his restaurants would open following Kemp’s announcement, but he soon changed his mind and decided to feed meals to the Atlanta homeless community instead.
Restaurants around the country are beginning to open up for dine-in service. For example, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said local restaurants could open their doors on Wednesday (May 27) but with strict regulations.