Court orders Lakeville restaurant to close for on-premises dining

December 18, 2020 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that Dakota County District Court granted a temporary restraining order against Lakeville restaurant Alibi Drinkery. On December 17, Attorney General Ellison’s office sued Alibi Drinkery for openly violating the ban on on-premises dining in Governor Tim Walz’s Executive Order 20-99, and also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, which the court just granted.

Alibi Drinkery must now close for on-premises dining or risk being found in contempt of court.

The court has scheduled a hearing in the matter for Tuesday, December 22 at 10:00 a.m.

“I’m gratified the court recognizes the severity of the pandemic and the need to take urgent action to stop the spread of COVID-19. I’m equally gratified that the vast majority of Minnesota bars and restaurants are already complying with their responsibility to keep their customers, employees, and communities safe. The very few that aren’t complying are simply prolonging the pandemic and the pain it’s caused all of us,” Attorney General Ellison said.

“I don’t enjoy using tools I have available to force establishments to comply, but today has shown once again that my office will use them when we must in order to protect Minnesotans from this deadly virus,” Attorney General Ellison concluded.