MIAMI VALLEY — Ownership at two Miami Valley restaurants is publicly asking its customers to adhere to its facial covering rules.
The owner of Meadowlark Restaurant in Washington Township and Wheat Penny Oven and Bar on Wayne Avenue in Dayton took to social media in recent days, sharing concerns about customers not following its requirements to wear masks while not seated at tables.
“We are experiencing some customers who are disregarding our mask-on policy and giving us attitude when we nicely say something,” chef/co-owner Elizabeth Wiley wrote on Facebook Friday. “What you think about masks is irrelevant, but your respect and values for fellow citizens and local businesses IS relevant.”
In an interview with News Center 7′s Sean Cudahy Monday evening, chef/co-owner Elizabeth Valenti said the non-compliance included customers showing up without masks, and some not putting them back on when they got up from tables to walk around or go to the bathroom.
“It was just a matter of feeling like our request had really not been respected,” Valenti said. “We feel that masks, especially inside the restaurant, it’s really an imperative to keep everyone as safe as possible.”
With Governor Mike DeWine warning in recent days about a spike in cases in southwest Ohio, Valenti said ownership feels safety measures like the wearing of masks is critical to avoiding any further business shutdowns.
“There’s got to be a sense of urgency about this,” she said. “We’ve lost quite a few amazing restaurants because of COVID. And I think if restaurants were to have to shut down again, I think that number would just explode.”
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