Other than a red piece of paper on the front door, you wouldn鈥檛 know anything was amiss at Rolly鈥檚 Restaurant in Hope.

Though the District of Hope suspended the restaurant鈥檚 business licence for six months, the place was packed with diners enjoying breakfast at 9 a.m.

Owner Muriel Young remained defiant, insisting she won鈥檛 ask customers for proof of vaccination.

鈥淚 told the health people, 鈥榃e鈥檝e done everything you wanted,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淲e use hand sanitizer. Cleaning of the bathrooms is ongoing. I hired two kids to work all summer spraying menus, so each menu is sterilized. I put plants on every other table for social distancing, and we went broke because of that, so I opened up a patio. We put up dividers. We鈥檙e masking. But now they want me to do something illegal and I have to say no.鈥�

Young said she鈥檚 facing daily fines of $100 up to $25,000, and if financial pain doesn鈥檛 get Rolly鈥檚 in line, the possibility of jail time exists.

Part of her fight is based purely on principle, and her belief in medical privacy. But she said there鈥檚 a practical reason to stay open as well.

鈥淎round 2 o鈥檆lock yesterday, I finished doing payroll,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here were 39 cheques without mine. There are 40 people being supported by this business, and all we鈥檙e doing is standing up for our opinion, which we have the right to do.鈥�

As Young talked, one man walked by the table and gave her a thumbs up.

She said she鈥檚 been hugged by customers and even had people pray for her in the oft-packed entryway.

Young heard there was a rally planned for 11 a.m. Friday morning (Oct. 8) and Rolly鈥檚 Restaurant has received a lot of support on social media. But she recognizes that support for the position she鈥檚 taken is not universally positive.

鈥淭here are those who phone and say, 鈥榃hat an a-hole you are,鈥� so there鈥檚 a negative side to it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not saying there isn鈥檛.鈥�

eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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