LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — This week, long lines continue to stretch out the door of Brewed, a coffee shop here in Lexington.
The restaurant became embedded in controversy starting on Tuesday, November 24, when the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department filed a lawsuit against the owner for refusing to follow Gov. Andy Beshear's order to stop indoor dining.
LEX 18 spoke to Brewed Owner Andrew Cooperrider the day he was ordered to close and he told us, "I have an order to close and I'm not doing it."
It's now Friday, and he still isn't closing. Because of that, Cooperrider will be in court on Monday, November 30.
LEX 18 obtained a copy of that Emergency Suspension Order given to Brewed which states that the health department found people inside were violating the mask mandate.
It also says "Mr. Cooperrider followed the LFCHD inspector the inspector's vehicle with approximately twenty of the Licensee's patrons verbally abusing the inspectors."
Cooperrider responded to the order.
"The number one reason why was because I was in here with legal counsel," Cooperrider explained. "When they handed me the paper and legal counsel said to ask for the public hearing I said, 'I want a public hearing' and I wouldn't have followed him to the truck if he would've turned and said, 'heard you.' I had to follow him to his truck saying, 'I want a public hearing.'"
On Brewed's Facebook page, Cooperrider is offering to have a private conversation with the Governor prior to Monday's court hearing.
Our first court date is Monday. No other restaurant has been taken to this point in the state yet that we are aware...
Posted by Brewed on Thursday, November 26, 2020
