The End of NYC’s Vaccine Mandate Has Left Restaurants Fending For Themselves - Eater NY
"Natalie Freihon, owner of the Orchard Townhouse, says a group of protesters entered her Chelsea restaurant around 3 p.m. on March 16, stormed past the host stand, and occupied all of its empty chairs. When asked to provide proof of vaccination, in line with the restaurant’s ongoing policy, the protesters turned hostile, Freihon says, yelling at restaurant staff and refusing to leave. Police arrived on scene around 90 minutes later and the protestors exited the restaurant, but they stood outside for over an hour, seemingly waiting for police officers to leave, Freihon says. Nobody was charged, and eventually the protesters left the Orchard Townhouse around 5:30 p.m., more than two hours after arriving, according to the restaurateur. They vowed to return every day until the restaurant dropped its vaccine requirement." - Luke Fortney
