Gloucester Township Restaurant Broke COVID Rules, Police Say

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A restaurant in Gloucester Township was recently cited for violating the governor’s executive order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, officials said on Wednesday.

Investigators with the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) responded to the Texas Roadhouse that was almost at 70 percent capacity, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan said during a news conference.

It was one of three violations Callahan cited on Wednesday. The Hoboken Elks Lodge was issued a summons for a violation, and several violations were reported at the Island Gym in Ventnor, Callahan said. No further information was immediately available about any of these incidents.

Indoor capacity at bars and restaurants is currently limited to 25 percent, although it will increase to 35 percent on Friday morning, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Wednesday. Read more here: Gov. Murphy To Loosen NJ’s Indoor COVID-19 Rules

Indoor capacity has been limited since the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a statewide lockdown nearly a year ago. Indoor dining was initially closed, but was open at 25 percent capacity in September. It remained that way until Wednesday’s announcement.

Since March, ABC has initiated enforcement actions against more than 200 establishments in response to COVID-19-related violations by licensees. Those actions have delivered warnings and sought fines, license suspensions, and license revocations.