New Mexico restaurants to protest health order prohibiting dine-in service
Lucas PeermanUpdated at 11:30 a.m. July 13 to show El Sombrero Patio Cafe (not El Sombrero Express) is among the restaurants participating in the protest.
LAS CRUCES - Restaurants across New Mexico are planning to protest a recent public health order prohibiting dine-in service.
The governor's amended health order takes effect Monday, which is the same day as the scheduled photo protest.
The New Mexico Restaurant Association has asked restaurants across the state to stage the protest at 2 p.m. At that time, staff and others are encouraged to gather in front of a restaurant and hold up a sign with the number of employees affected. Photos of the protests will be posted to social media with the hashtag #LetUsServe.
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The NMRA guidance encourages employees to be in uniform and to be wearing masks.
Among the Las Cruces-area restaurants and other venues participating in the protest:
- Bite of Belgium
- Chala's
- Chilitos
- D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro
- Dick's Cafe
- Double Eagle
- El Sombrero Patio Cafe
- The Game Sports Bar and Grill
- Game II
- Hacienda de Mesilla
- Icebox Brewing Company (locations on Picacho Avenue, US 70 and Main Street downtown)
- La Posta de Mesilla
- Lorenzo's
- Lucky Dog Billiards
- Luna Rossa
- Pastaggio's at Red Hawk Golf Course
- Picacho HIlls Country Club
- Sierra del Rio in Elephant Butte
- Sushi Freak
Any local restaurants are welcome to share photos with the Sun-News via email at news@lcsun-news.com.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the amended health order on Thursday after a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The governor announced patio and outdoor seating is permitted to continue at 50 percent maximum legal occupancy with "COVID-safe practices," and restaurants may continue with carryout and delivery services. Breweries may continue to provide curbside pickup service as well.
It was a step backward in the process of reopening businesses, with the governor and health officials finding that resuming too much normal activity too soon, particularly in younger adults, had sent the state in the wrong direction.
Restaurants had to transition to carryout or delivery service when the first public health order was given March 24. On June 1, the state again allowed dine-in service.
Some restaurants, including the Trinity Hotel and Restaurant in Carlsbad, are planning to defy the governor's latest health order.
“This would shut us down for good. We are going to be staying open,” owner Janie Balzano told the Carlsbad Current-Argus.
Lucas Peerman can be reached at 575-541-5446, lpeerman@lcsun-news.com or @LittleGuyInATie on Twitter.