9/3/21 - Holland restaurant shuttered 5 months for defying COVID-19 orders allowed to reopen

A Holland restaurant owner whose restaurant was shuttered in March after she defied sate COVID-19 restrictions is set to reopen based on a judge’s order.

HOLLAND, MI -- (Mlive) - Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, the owner of Marlena’s Bistro, said a judge signed an order Thursday, Sept. 2 that will allow her to reopen Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria at 909 Lincoln Avenue. Her restaurant has been closed, based on a previous court order, for more than five months.

“I’m grateful, but my fight isn’t finished yet,” she said of an ongoing court battle over the validity of coronavirus restrictions and whether state leaders have power to enforce them.

She expects to reopen Sept. 21. Pavlos-Hackney said she needs the lead time to make sure she has enough employees and other necessities in place.

Pavlos-Hackney in March became the face of discontent -- at least by some -- of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus restrictions that earlier banned indoor dining for months followed by capacity limitations.

In November, when other restaurants shut down indoor dining during a COVID-19 spike in infections, Marlena’s Bistro continued indoor operations.

Her food license eventually was suspended and, on March 19, she was arrested and spent five days in jail. Her restaurant has been closed ever since.

Reached by phone Thursday, Pavlos-Hackney told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that she was able to survive financially during her restaurant’s shutdown because of donations from supporters. She thanked those who helped.

Still, she believes the government overstepped its bounds in her case and others.

She said the “people” are in charge, not the government.

“No government can take our life, liberty or property,” she said. “I’m still going to fight for justice.”

Ingham County Judge Wanda Stokes issued the new order Thursday. Stokes earlier this year issued a temporary-restraining order prohibiting Pavlos-Hackney from providing food service.

The state had suspended her food license alleging she violated state food laws and public-health orders related to coronavirus. She had kept her restaurant open after the state in mid-November banned indoor dining.

She also did not require customers or workers to wear masks or socially distance.

The restaurant owner drew support from some in the community and beyond. Marlena’s Bistro was packed on the day she was arrested, before it was closed for the last five-plus months.