Calhan restaurant still open with no further action from the county or state
CALHAN, Colo. (KRDO) -- An employee at Western Omelette 3 in Calhan tells KRDO their dining room remains open for customers Wednesday, even after the state took action against another restaurant that opened its dining room.
Western Omelette 3 and Karen's Kafe and Stephanie's Bar and Grill have been violating the state public health order banning them from allowing customers to dine inside restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Karen's Kafe and Stephanie's Bar and Grill closed Wednesday to give employees a day off of work. However, the restaurant said in a Facebook post the health department will not shut it down. Customers will be welcome for dine-in services on Thursday.
KRDO has pressed El Paso County Public Health for answers about its enforcement policies related to the state's public health order. Last Thursday, county health officials said they were "moving forward" with a cease-and-desist order against the restaurants.
However, it's clear both owners intend to not comply with the public health order.
KRDO specifically asked El Paso County health officials why C&C Coffee and Kitchen was stripped of its sales tax license after its Castle Rock location dining room was open for Mother's Day. The Colorado Springs C&C Coffee and Kitchen remains closed because the license is connected to both locations.
Concerned customers of C&C said they feel as though the government is singling out C&C Coffee and Kitchen.
We've asked both state and county health officials about why different enforcement action is being taken against restaurants that are violating the state order in the same manner.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released this statement to KRDO late Tuesday afternoon:
"Counties typically lead on enforcement actions. If the state chooses to
also take action, that doesn't preclude the county from doing so. Typically
the state will get involved when there has been no county action to
suspend/close a violating facility -- or when there are willful, flagrant
violations."
