Owners of a popular Mexican restaurant in Texas were reneged on their masked mandate after threatening to call people immigration and customs enforcement.
The Richards family, owners of the Picos in Houston, said they have received a bunch of hateful messages since deciding that they would continue to require face-covering for customers following the state’s mask mandate.
“It was terrible,” co-owner Monica Richards Told the Houston Chronicle.
Richards said Greg Abbott announced the reopening of the state after the government threatened that his statewide facade would be dismantled.
For 40 years, the restaurant, named Houston Staples, had told its customers that it would implement its own COVID-19 restrictions.
Richards said Picos had been threatened with calls, private messages on social media and emails to eatery staff and reported that his green card and paperwork should be checked.
“I never thought they would go that far,” she told the Chronicle, adding that Picos “has always been by the book.”
Business is not the only one that is bound to stick to coronovirus mitigation methods.
A recent poll conducted by the Texas Restaurant Association found that 72 percent of the more than 700 members said they would hold a mask mandate.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo Said in a video on twitter Last week, private businesses have the legal right to require face-covering if they choose to.
“Just remember that if you remain in business after asking to leave, you are subject to arrest for criminal trespass,” he warned.
Richards said he was pleased with the negative comments and messages of support for Picos, even in the face of threats. He is confident that the restaurant will remain in business.
“If people don’t want to follow it, they can either move their margaritas at different times or come back,” she said.
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