Court shuts down East Grand Forks bar and grill for violating COVID-19 restrictions following AG Ellison lawsuit, restraining order

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Friday that his office has filed a lawsuit and motion for a temporary restraining order against an East Grand Forks bar and grill for violating COVID restrictions.

Boardwalk Bar and Grill posted on Facebook Wednesday that it was allowing indoor dining, which violates the state’s current law due to public safety restrictions installed by Gov. Tim Walz in Executive Order 20-99.

Ellison said local law enforcement went to the restaurant when it opened and informed the owner of the violations. The owner, Jane Moss, told law enforcement she understood but was going to violate the order anyway.

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The following day, the Minnesota Department of Health served the bar and grill with a cease and desist order but it has continued to disregard the executive order.

"COVID-19 is deadly serious: it doesn’t care who you are or where you live, and it’s hurting people in every corner of Minnesota. This is why it’s everyone’s responsibility to stop it," Ellison said. "Most Minnesota business owners recognize this: they’re making sacrifices to comply with the law because they care about the health of their employees and communities. I know it’s especially tough on establishments in border areas — but the fact that neighboring states should be doing more to stop the spread of COVID doesn’t mean Minnesotans should do less. It’s only fair to the businesses that are doing their part to hold accountable those that aren’t."

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Ellison noted East Grand Forks borders North Dakota, which has the country’s highest per capita rate of COVID-19, and Minnesota ranks 11th, currently. Additionally, Polk County has the 23rd most confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state.

The enforcement action is the second taken by Ellison’s office during the current four-week restrictions that are in place.

Friday night, a court granted the temporary restraining order.