WATCH: Officials fine small businesses for staying open but leave corporate giants alone | The Post Millennial
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WATCH: Officials fine small businesses for staying open but leave corporate giants alone
The establishment was served with an order to close on Friday, ostensibly due to new pandemic regulations in California, which many feel are being enforced in a very uneven manner.
Nick the Greek, a restaurant in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, came under attack by California officials, and people are calling foul play, as they feel small business have been unfairly targeted during the pandemic.
The restaurant is brand new, having opened its doors on Oct. 8, but it has been very popular during its short time open, with lines often stretching down the block.
The establishment was served with an order to close on Friday, ostensibly due to new pandemic regulations in California, which many feel are being enforced in a very uneven manner.
The original video, posted by Jorge Ventura, showed two California officials in the restaurant issuing formal citations against the restaurant for remaining open and not closing. Owner Anton Von Happen and a customer argued against the fines
"Why aren't you at Costco right now, there's 500 people inside Costco?" The customer asked the officials.
"What are you doing here?" He said. "Get out! Just go away! Nobody wants you here! Just get out!"
"You don't understand," one of the officials told him.
The customer responded, "No, you don't understand. If you understood, you'd be gone!"
Von Happen argued with the two officials who were trying to shut down his business and prevent him from earning a living. They said that he was in violation of an order to cease operations.
One official insisted on following procedure and appeared to not listen Von Happen at all. He mentioned Von Happen's right to appeal and the terms thereof, without concern for Von Happen's objections.
"No small business owner that incurs fines for being open in communities where Costco, Walmart, Target, and other big businesses are open should pay those fines."