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The Rock House Grill in Houghton will be without its liquor license for the next 45 days.
The suspension was handed down Monday by the State Liquor Control Commission, along with a $600 fine for KMPD Incorporated, which operates the restaurant and the associated Mine Shaft bowling and entertainment venue.
At the hearing on Monday, Western Upper Peninsula Health Department officials testified that more than 120 complaints had been received from the public about the Mine Shaft continuing to serve patrons on site, in defiance of the most recent Pandemic Order issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. They recounted a number of attempts to persuade the business to operate in accordance with the law, and said that management had been uncooperative.
Mine Shaft operator Andy Moyle said they had taken some steps toward COVID-19 safety, including reduced hours and capacity. Staff members were required to wear masks, although health department inspectors photographed customers who were not masked.
Moyle said COVID-19 restrictions have seriously damaged the business financially, and that he believed the Pandemic Order was unenforceable.
He admitted that around 200 members of a political group had gathered at the facility November 20th, and did not wear masks. Health department officials were made aware of the November 20th event in advance, and had cautioned the Mine Shaft not to host it.
Molye also said that he knew of four employees who were required to quarantine because of COVID-19, but testified that he does not believe they caught the virus at the Mine Shaft, or spread it to any customers or other employees.
In his ruling, Administrative Law Judge Michael St. John acknowledged that the pandemic has caused significant economic pain for restaurant owners, but wrote “Economic necessity does not allow the Licensee to pick and choose which laws to comply with.”
He cited the Mine Shaft’s defiance of multiple health department warnings and orders, and said the suspension and fine were based on the “extremely serious nature of the violations.”
See the full official hearing summary and St. John’s complete ruling here.
