State orders some defiant eateries closed

The state Department of Agriculture has been shutting down restaurants that have defied the Wolf administration's ban on indoor dining, including Nicoletta's Italian Restaurant in Altoona and four other restaurants in the region.

Also shut down are Route 220 Diner in Bedford, Mike's Place in Clearville, the Hot Dog House in Bellefonte and Fun Central in Clearfield, according to AgrIculture Department spokeswoman Shannon Powers.

The shutdown orders were imposed after complaints that led to visits by Ag Department inspectors and subsequent refusals of the restaurants to cease indoor dining service, Powers said.

"They are a tiny drop in the overall scheme," Powers said. "Most businesses are complying."

The inspectors visit restaurants in response to complaints.

Many complaints have turned out to be baseless, Powers said.

Others have resulted in restaurants acceding to the governor's ban.

"Restaurants are given an opportunity to comply while the inspector is on-site," she said.

There are no problematic consequences for those that comply, she said.

But restaurants that defy an inspector's direct order to close after a visit are not only forced to close, based on a posting on their doors, but are also being referred to the Department of Health for further legal action, Powers said.

She doesn't know of any threats against inspectors, but if any were made, they would be referred to the state police, Powers said.

There have, however, been derisive emails and social media posts.

The department receives thousands of complaints related to COVID-19 every week, she said.

"We do our best to follow up on all of them," Powers said.

The indoor dining ban went into effect Dec. 12 and will expire Jan. 4, unless it is renewed.

The names of the closed-down restaurants are not listed on the department's website but are available upon media request, according to Powers.

A message left with Nicoletta's wasn't returned.