See Louisiana businesses that violated Gov. John Bel Edwards' Open Safely mandates

Nearly 700 Louisiana restaurants, bars and other businesses failed inspections in July after violations of the governor's safe-open order were discovered, including requirements like face coverings and capacity limits.

Authorities already have suspended the operating licenses of four businesses that failed inspections and another 14 businesses risk having their licenses suspended after failing two inspections, according to records from the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office.

Louisiana businesses affirmed in May filings with the State Fire Marshal's Office that they would comply with the Open Safely mandates issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards as a condition of reopening.

Louisiana remains in Phase 2 of reopening, as Edwards has extended the period with more restrictions, including closing bars to on-site service and a face mask mandate.

The mandate requires bars, restaurants, casinos, gas stations, truck stops and other types of businesses to comply with requirements help limit the spread of COVID-19, including limiting capacity in the business; accommodating social distancing by spacing tables and other methods; and requiring face coverings. Since July 13, both employees and customers have been required to wear masks. 

Some business owners who have been inspected called the process unfair, penalizing them for actions out of their control. The Sand Dollar Tiki Bar was investigated for having a crowd gathered at an outside pavilion on the last weekend of July.

Owner Butch Gaspard said his business, which had its operating permit suspended, shouldn't be hurt by what happened outside at the pavilion. 

“The fire marshal was here on Saturday at 4:45 p.m.," Gaspard told the Houma Courier. "For 20 minutes they sat in their car and observed and began to walk around and met with me and said all was good and that we were in compliance. We have multiple witnesses to what he said.”

The state has logged more than 5,000 inspections since the governor issued his mandate. In July, 698 Louisiana business failed inspections for failing to comply with one or more of the requirements.

Most businesses that are found to not be in compliance receive two warnings before action is taken against them, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said at a press conference last week. The two-warning system is not a hard and fast rule though.  

The inspections are conducted by the state fire marshal's office, Louisiana Department of Health, The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and select local fire prevention bureaus.

Which 14 businesses were inspected twice that now risk temporary closure? 

The businesses on the State Fire Marshal's list that already have failed two inspections include eight restaurants, two gas stations, two bars, one shopping market and one casino.

The violations found during inspections included employees and customers not wearing face masks, tables being too close together, large group gatherings, being over the limited capacity inside, not having a crowd manager and offering customers self-serve buffet dining. 

If inspectors find the businesses have violated the governor's order again, they could have their operating license suspended.

One of the businesses, Miro's in Monroe, is a full-service restaurant with a bar and patio area on the Ouachita River. Inspectors said the business violated capacity limits with too many customers and social-distancing requirements ignored with tables too close together.

Owner Roy Arthur said he's making changes to help so the state doesn't have to return to Phase 1 restrictions.

Arthur said tables were removed from the indoor dining area and servers are required to wear masks. He said his employees work to keep capacity at less than 50% and keep customers socially distanced, even outdoors.

He said he has good customers, and they don’t get a lot of pushback, but sometimes they have to tell people without food at the bar they need to move to the patio. To meet requirements that a bar serve food, he’s extended kitchen hours.

“These poor people are looking for somewhere to go,” he said, noting there are a lot of nice bars that aren’t operating because of the shutdown.

Have other businesses been penalized? 

In addition to the Sand Dollar Tiki Bar on Grand Isle, three other bars in the state have had their operating permits suspended by the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control after repeatedly violating the governor's mandates — Pelican Pub in Gonzales, Frosty Factory in Lake Charles and Wo-de's Chill Spot in Harvey. 

Hearings are scheduled for those businesses on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6.

Gaspard called the charges against his Sand Dollar Tiki Bar “false.”

“In 23 years that we’ve been here at this location, we were never cited or warned about anything going wrong in our business by the fire marshal or (Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control)," he said.

What violations did inspectors find at the 14 two-strike businesses?

Cajun Mark, a restaurant in Many

Employees at The Cajun Market in Many, southwest of Natchitoches, were not wearing face coverings while preparing food, according to a July 9 inspection. 

When an inspector visited the restaurant on July 22, she found customers and employees weren't wearing masks, tables weren't spaced correctly and some tables weren't being cleaned between customers. She noted management was working to correct the violations. 

Carrollton Shell, a gas station in New Orleans

Employees were not wearing face coverings at the Shell gas station on Carrollton Street in New Orleans, according to a June 29 inspection.

On July 20, an inspection found groups and individuals weren't standing at least 6 feet apart and the waiting space was being occupied improperly. 

Cottage Inn, a bar in Prairieville

One bartender was not wearing a mask and the crowd of customers was too large at the Cottage Inn a bar in Prairieville, which is southeast of Baton Rouge, according to a July 2 inspection. The inspector also found that approved sanitizing solution was not being used at the bar.

On July 5, an inspector found employees were not wearing masks, but that improvements had been made since the last inspection. 

Cousins Cajun Market, a restaurant in Stonewall 

Customers were not social distancing at the food counter, customers moved tables too close together and employees were not addressing either issue at Cousin's Cajun Market, a restaurant in Stonewall, which is south of Shreveport, according to a July 21 inspection report.

Face coverings also were not being used by customers or employees, according to the inspection. 

"Owner states she will not comply with Phase Two guidelines," the inspector wrote. 

Another inspection on July 23 found neither employees nor customers were wearing masks. 

"They were not wearing masks and are refusing to wear masks while in operation," the inspector wrote. "They also stated that they will not ask customers to wear masks."

Golden Nugget, a casino in Lake Charles

A pool area was over its capacity limit, guests were not spaced at least 6 feet apart, groups with more than 10 people were gathered and there was no crowd manager at the Golden Nugget pool in Lake Charles, according to a July 4 inspection.

An inspector returned to the pool on July 26 after an undated picture surfaced showing potential violations, according to a report. The inspector found there was no crowd manager, one large group and patrons on the deck weren't wearing masks. 

A manager with the Golden Nugget asked that crowd mangers be educated by the inspector. 

Lucky Village Super Buffet, a restaurant in Natchitoches 

There was no crowd manager, three tables were left uncleaned after customers left and multiple customers were coming and going from the restaurant without masks at the Lucky Village Super Buffet, according to a July 18 inspection. 

The inspector also saw a group of about 35 people who had pushed tables together. Customers were allowed to serve themselves at the buffet, which is not allowed in Phase 2 reopening. 

An inspector found customers again were serving themselves at a buffet on July 27.

"During this visit, the restaurant had four customers; all four were serving themselves at the same time at the buffet while the manager was explaining to me that his employees are not allowing customers to serve themselves," inspector Kevin Billiot wrote in his report.

Miro, a restauarnt in Monroe 

At Miro, a restaurant in Monroe, an inspector on July 4 found the outside dining area was over the limited capacity, there was no space between outside tables and there was no crowd manager. 

On July 23, an inspector found patrons weren't social distancing at the bar area. 

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Mr. T's, a restaurant in Elton

An inspector visited Mr. T's in Elton, which is north of Jennings, on July 4. The inspector found tables and chairs were tightly arraigned with no spacing, which didn't allow for social distancing between customers. The inspector also found employees were provided masks but weren't wearing them.

On July 15, an inspector noted two employees behind the counter weren't wearing masks. The owner and an Elton Police officer were not wearing masks either.  

"They were educated on the importance of complying with the latest proclamation," the inspector wrote. "The owner identified himself as Tony Laughlin, the mayor of Elton. I told him it was nice to meet him and I could use his help in setting a proper example for his town and patrons. He agreed."

Peking Buffet, a restaurant in Ruston 

On July 2, an inspector found that multiple tables of customers using a buffet to serve themselves. 

"I advised the manager that he had to have the buffet to-go only, have an employee serve from the buffet, or close the buffet," the inspector wrote.

An inspector found the buffet was still offered for customer use on July 3. The manager said a plan would be in order by the next day. 

On July 21, an inspector found customers were again serving themselves from the buffet. A different inspector returned that night and found no violations. 

The business was part of a meeting with officials from the Louisiana Department of Health on Thursday about potential pending action, said state fire marshal spokeswoman Ashley Rodrigue. 

Strawns Eat Shop Too, a restaurant in Shreveport

On June 25, an inspector found employees not wearing masks at Strawn's Eat Shop Too on Youree Drive in Shreveport. He noted tables and booths were separated by large pieces of plexiglass. 

An inspector on July 7 again found employees not wearing masks. The inspector noted he spoke with a manager who said she would correct the issue. 

Schexnayder Supermarket, Vacherie, Shopping market

At the Schexnayder Supermarket in Vacherie, which is southeast of Baton Rouge, an inspector on July 7 found that waiting space was not being occupied correctly and employees weren't wearing masks. 

On July 10 an inspector found employees were not wearing masks. 

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Top Shelf, a bar in Alexandria

An inspector on July 2 visited Top Shelf, a bar in Alexandria. The inspector did not list a specific violation but said he discussed distancing compliance and personal protective equipment with a manager. 

On July 15, an inspector found an employee was not wearing a mask. There was also a customer sitting at the bar drinking, despite bars being closed for on-premises consumption. The customer was not wearing a mask.

A manager for Top Shelf said Friday she couldn't comment because the bar hasn't received any citations or warnings.

Travel Plaza, a gas station in Jennings

An inspector on July 3 found that four of six employees at the Travel Plaza in Jennings were not wearing masks. 

When an inspector returned on July 15, he found employees and customers were not wearing face masks. 

"The clerk did not have her mask on properly and said she wasn’t going to wear it. I advised her that was not appropriate for her to say to the patrons and identified myself," the inspector wrote. "I educated her on how it was effective to help against the spread of disease and as a business representative, it was her duty to wear her mask and ensure her patrons do the same. She complied but voiced her displeasure."

Wagon Master Steakhouse, Leesville, restaurant 

On July 6, an inspector found employees were not wearing masks at the Wagon Master Steakhouse in Leesville, which is west of Alexandria. When an inspector returned on July 16, three waitresses were seen with masks around their necks and some customers were entering without masks. 

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi. Bonnie Bolden, a reporter with the Monroe News Star, and Melissa Gregory, a reporter with the Alexandria Town Talk, contributed to this report.