Patrons line up as Adamson Barbecue in Etobicoke opens for indoor dining in spite of COVID-19 measures

While patrons filled the Adamson Barbecue in Etobicoke on Tuesday, proudly defying provincial and municipal rules for no-eating at home during the lockdown, Toronto law enforcement and police officers did nothing to prevent the long line of customers to enter.

Owner Adam Skelly promised social media to open normally on Tuesday, creating the first major public test of the new COVID-19 measures that went into effect on Monday.

Restaurants are allowed to offer take-out and home delivery, but are not allowed to have indoor or outdoor diners in Toronto under lockdown measures imposed by the province for at least the next 28 days.

After the restaurant had served customers for nearly two hours, Toronto Police Insp. Tim Crone told reporters that the restaurant was open illegally, but that officers would not be moving to clear out diners.

“It is not allowed to remain open and once again this will be part of the investigation and law enforcement will most likely be undertaken within this week,” Crone said. “But obviously for the huge number of people who are here right now, we don’t have the ability to physically get in and out of everyone at this point and it wouldn’t be safe to do so.”

Public health and law enforcement have conducted an investigation, Crone said, with police on site to “ensure public safety” and support city officials.

Shortly after the restaurant opens at 11am for business, two law enforcement officers, a public health inspector, and two uniformed police officers could be seen walking into the Queen Elizabeth Boulevard headquarters to speak to employees. including an agitated Skelly.

Skelly, who shouted at reporters to stay off his property and warmly greeted guests, later walked out of the Texas barbecue shop saying he hadn’t been fined and refused to speak to a reporter further.

City spokesman Brad Ross said it remains “an active investigation” and staff were hoping to have more to say Tuesday afternoon.

Carleton Grant, head of the city’s law enforcement unit, said Tuesday morning that the restaurant’s opening plan was brought to his attention “by a number of inside sources.”

He said at the time that city officials, public health and police officials were planning to visit the restaurant.

“If this establishment or any other that is prohibited from opening does so, appropriate law enforcement will be taken,” Grant said in an email.

Premier Doug Ford – who previously branded people who went to parties in violation of pandemic regulations as “reckless” or “a bunch of yahoos” – adopted a more moderate tone about Adamson’s situation on Tuesday.

“I just want the guy to shut down,” said Ford, who is taking care of lockdown measures that force non-essential small businesses in Toronto and Peel to shut down while Walmart and Costco remain open because they sell food and pharmaceuticals. .

“I’m not going to go up here and start hitting on a small business owner when the guy is hanging by his nails,” the premier added. “My heart goes out.”

But Ford has reinforced the importance of following public health protocols with new COVID-19 cases averaging 1,395 per day in the past week, near all-time highs.

“If everyone does what he does… you’ll ask me another question when we start hitting 2,000 or 3,000 cases a day. This is the last thing we want to happen. “

Mayor John Tory also adopted a more moderate tone, telling reporters that everyone has a right to protest and that he doesn’t direct the application.

“Law enforcement people will make whatever decisions they make … but as a general rule we can’t let people decide to take the law into their own hands,” he said.

“This is a regulation duly approved and put in place by the Ontario government to help tackle a very acute health pandemic, COVID-19, and everyone must demonstrate compliance with these laws and regulations.”

He reiterated that he believes the time for warnings is over and that the city should “record a serious message about the violation of the law.”

Coun. Mark Grimes, who represents the area, was out of the restaurant on Tuesday.

“This is a relatively new restaurant, it opened a few months ago. So either this guy is the smartest guy or the dumbest guy. I think it might be a publicity stunt, I’m not too sure, ”Grimes said.

“A little worrying that some people don’t want to follow the rules.”

Outside the whitewashed building, a crowd scene began to form just before the doors opened with customers, mostly without masks and a few socially spaced. Some have vitrioled reporters repeatedly, some using megaphones.

One man, who refused to give his name, claimed the COVID-19 test was a “lie” and that the opening was not dangerous at all, instead criticizing reporters for publishing “false evidence”.

Another man, who also refused to give his full name, acknowledged that dining at home was potentially dangerous, but said he defended his and others’ right to choose for themselves.

“People can get sick, I’m saying, but it’s people’s choice. It is a free country. Give me freedom or give me death, ”said the second man.

Some wore Guy Fawkes masks and cheered as passing cars on the largely industrial strip near the Gardiner Expressway passed by to honk in support.

One was a truck from the city of Toronto, whose driver punched several protesters. Ross, the city spokesman, said the employee was not a law officer and they were investigating.

Skelly posted a video on the Texas BBQ restaurant’s official Instagram on Monday to tell followers that the new Etobicoke location will open for dining indoors “against provincial orders” starting at 11am.

“For those of you who have eyes to understand why I’m doing this, thank you so much guys,” Skelly said.

“This is a risky move and you guys gave me the gas to do it.”

Without any evidence, Skelly suggested on Instagram that the COVID-19 case count had been exaggerated, testing ineffective, and non-essential activities shut down unnecessarily. He said “this thing” – he doesn’t specify what exactly – “stinks, smells like corruption.”

“When it’s too much is too much. We’re opening. For anyone who is a fan of freedom and sovereignty, the right to choose what to wear, where to go, who to have in your house, what businesses you can go to, I’d love to meet you tomorrow.”

This isn’t the first time Skelly has questioned the impact of the virus, which was targeted earlier this year for online comments and vitriol directed at critics, Global News reported. Skelly later apologized.

Jennifer Pagliaro is a Toronto-based journalist covering city hall and municipal policy for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @jpags