Legends Tavern Unfair Treatment
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Casey Maynor is vice president of the members board. She, along with the other board members and the bar itself, are being unfairly targeted by law enforcement. We are hoping to raise the funds to help with attorney/legal fees and rent for the property so she doesn't lose it and locals do not lose a safe, friendly place to congregate (when we can again). Every dollar counts so if you can spare even a dollar or two, we will be forever grateful! Below is the detailed story to date.
We are a small businesses in Chesterfield County SC called Legends Tavern. On Tuesday March 17th we closed our doors due to coronavirus. We figured we would use this time for some spring cleaning. Wednesday, March 18th four members and the bartender had started the cleanup. The open sign was off, and a sign was on the door “closed to the public. We received a visit from a deputy saying we had to close immediately. No members, not even limited numbers, or employees could be inside of the building, not even for cleaning. We complied. Friday, March 20th, the guy who cuts our grass, and the guy who weed eats was outside on our property doing the yard work (we have 23 acre so plenty of room for social distancing). Two people outside, working in different areas, with the business closed. One of our employees stopped by to feed our cat. Not long after she arrived, a deputy and a k9 officer pulled into the parking lot, and told her we could not be open. She explained to them that we was not open, and she was feeding the cat.
They took a look inside to verify that was the truth, and left. Keep in mind this was days before the governor's order on March 21st of no gatherings of 10 or more people, so there was not yet a limit on outside gatherings, especially on private property. We were the only business in the county being forced to close completely at that time. The shops downtown had been fully operational, including clothing boutiques, tanning salons, thrift stores, paint stores, and liquor stores just to name a few... all open to the public to come inside. I did not feel any of these businesses were necessities, nor essential businesses, that should be excluded from following the same rules we were forced to follow.
On March 21st the governor issued an order allowing bars and restaurants who held a beer and wine on-premises license (which we do) to sell beer and wine Togo, curbside or delivery. After the order was issued, I called the Department of Revenue just to make sure we could In fact sell Togo with our license, their answer was yes. I then called SLED and the Sheriff to verify. Since deputies had already visited us twice while being closed, I figured it was the safe thing to do. The SLED officer quickly told me the order did not apply to us. I was a bar, a private club (even though the order clearly stated bars) and we could not sell Togo. Our doors had to remain closed. Up until the 25th, we were still being told by different SLED agents the order did not apply to us, because we were not a restaurant. The Department of Revenue was saying it did apply to us, because the order was based off the license we held, and the order did in fact include bars and private clubs. On the afternoon of March 25th we got a call back from a SLED agent (who refused to give me her name when asked) saying we could sell beer and wine Togo. This is after I put her in contact with the supervisor I have been speaking with from DOR, who confirmed to her we could In fact sell togo or curbside. She then stated many rules and regulations that need to be followed in order for us to do so. For example, no more than 3 cars in our parking lot at once, employees included. The parking lot was to be treated as a dwelling. We would be ticketed for congregating at any point 3 or more cars were present, seen, or reported to SLED or law enforcement. Members buying beer togo, would have to show I.D before purchase, and member records and files would need to be up to date (which they are), along with many others. We decided it was to risky to try and sell our inventory, and our doors would remain closed.
On March 26th, I spoke to a Lieutenant who also "believed" the governor's order did not apply to us. That counties did not have to abide by governors orders, they could enforce their own laws. With so many "you can, and you can nots", we were just not comfortable with even trying to sell Togo. Pretty much, it seemed to be based on how that person of power you were speaking to interpreted the order. At that time, we were also informed we had been issued a verbal warning by phone the day before. I was not aware I had received any type of verbal warning from an officer by phone. I then asked, what could we have possibly done to receive a verbal warning? We had not been operational in 9 days, we had not broken any laws, what could we have possibly done to receive a warning with the business closed? The only thing we had done was placed phone calls to numerous people trying to receive clarification on this confusing matter. My question was never answered, but I was still issued a verbal warning?? The only thing we had done was ask questions. We were then told our next offense (which seemed like it could be anything at that point) would result in ticketing.
On Monday May 4th, the Governor issued a new order stating outdoor dining was permitted with restrictions. We followed each and every guidelines in the new order. Placing temporary tents outback, all sides of the tent open, tables 8 feet apart Etc. We were finally able to open back up and move some of our inventory that had been sitting for almost 2 months. We had already lost much of our supplies. Some beer had reached sale by date, juices, mixers, milk, limes and lemons all had to be trashed, resulting in even more loss of revenue. Also, much of our prepackaged food that was not frozen items, was also trashed. On Wednesday May 6th, two Chesterfield County Deputies pulled into the parking lot. We were told we had to close our doors immediately, and was issued a ticket for “Violation of Governors Order”. When asked what we had violated, they weren't exactly sure. I showed them the new order, and they said “maybe because you sell prepackaged food, and no not have a DEHC inspection?”. I was confused because my understanding was the order was based off the licensing you held. Which we hold each license mentioned in the order. Retail sales, beer and wine on premises, and a business license.
We are begging for help. We are about to lose our business of 10 years. We have had 0 income for just shy of two months now. How are we suppose to pay a ticket when we can barely afford to feed our children at this point?? We are not criminals. We are “poor” working class citizens whose savings accounts could not withstand two months without income. We hold a federal identification number. We pay our taxes (monthly), buy our inventory from our federally regulated supplier. We contribute income to the state of SC. We went through a federal background check, fingers prints on file, just to be issued the license we pay money to hold. This is nothing more than discrimination. Maybe because we are a “private club”, maybe because we are women, or maybe it is even personal. Other businesses in the county, and all over South Carolina, that hold the exact same licensing as we do, have been allowed to remain open in one way or another. Private clubhouses at golf courses, other taverns around Rock Hill and Fort Mill, and many more around the state. We have absolutely had our constitutional rights trampled all over. I have documented every encounter, and phone conversation I have had with anyone since March 18th. Audio and video. I never thought I would see the day when a business was punished for earning an honest living.
We are a small businesses in Chesterfield County SC called Legends Tavern. On Tuesday March 17th we closed our doors due to coronavirus. We figured we would use this time for some spring cleaning. Wednesday, March 18th four members and the bartender had started the cleanup. The open sign was off, and a sign was on the door “closed to the public. We received a visit from a deputy saying we had to close immediately. No members, not even limited numbers, or employees could be inside of the building, not even for cleaning. We complied. Friday, March 20th, the guy who cuts our grass, and the guy who weed eats was outside on our property doing the yard work (we have 23 acre so plenty of room for social distancing). Two people outside, working in different areas, with the business closed. One of our employees stopped by to feed our cat. Not long after she arrived, a deputy and a k9 officer pulled into the parking lot, and told her we could not be open. She explained to them that we was not open, and she was feeding the cat.
They took a look inside to verify that was the truth, and left. Keep in mind this was days before the governor's order on March 21st of no gatherings of 10 or more people, so there was not yet a limit on outside gatherings, especially on private property. We were the only business in the county being forced to close completely at that time. The shops downtown had been fully operational, including clothing boutiques, tanning salons, thrift stores, paint stores, and liquor stores just to name a few... all open to the public to come inside. I did not feel any of these businesses were necessities, nor essential businesses, that should be excluded from following the same rules we were forced to follow.
On March 21st the governor issued an order allowing bars and restaurants who held a beer and wine on-premises license (which we do) to sell beer and wine Togo, curbside or delivery. After the order was issued, I called the Department of Revenue just to make sure we could In fact sell Togo with our license, their answer was yes. I then called SLED and the Sheriff to verify. Since deputies had already visited us twice while being closed, I figured it was the safe thing to do. The SLED officer quickly told me the order did not apply to us. I was a bar, a private club (even though the order clearly stated bars) and we could not sell Togo. Our doors had to remain closed. Up until the 25th, we were still being told by different SLED agents the order did not apply to us, because we were not a restaurant. The Department of Revenue was saying it did apply to us, because the order was based off the license we held, and the order did in fact include bars and private clubs. On the afternoon of March 25th we got a call back from a SLED agent (who refused to give me her name when asked) saying we could sell beer and wine Togo. This is after I put her in contact with the supervisor I have been speaking with from DOR, who confirmed to her we could In fact sell togo or curbside. She then stated many rules and regulations that need to be followed in order for us to do so. For example, no more than 3 cars in our parking lot at once, employees included. The parking lot was to be treated as a dwelling. We would be ticketed for congregating at any point 3 or more cars were present, seen, or reported to SLED or law enforcement. Members buying beer togo, would have to show I.D before purchase, and member records and files would need to be up to date (which they are), along with many others. We decided it was to risky to try and sell our inventory, and our doors would remain closed.
On March 26th, I spoke to a Lieutenant who also "believed" the governor's order did not apply to us. That counties did not have to abide by governors orders, they could enforce their own laws. With so many "you can, and you can nots", we were just not comfortable with even trying to sell Togo. Pretty much, it seemed to be based on how that person of power you were speaking to interpreted the order. At that time, we were also informed we had been issued a verbal warning by phone the day before. I was not aware I had received any type of verbal warning from an officer by phone. I then asked, what could we have possibly done to receive a verbal warning? We had not been operational in 9 days, we had not broken any laws, what could we have possibly done to receive a warning with the business closed? The only thing we had done was placed phone calls to numerous people trying to receive clarification on this confusing matter. My question was never answered, but I was still issued a verbal warning?? The only thing we had done was ask questions. We were then told our next offense (which seemed like it could be anything at that point) would result in ticketing.
On Monday May 4th, the Governor issued a new order stating outdoor dining was permitted with restrictions. We followed each and every guidelines in the new order. Placing temporary tents outback, all sides of the tent open, tables 8 feet apart Etc. We were finally able to open back up and move some of our inventory that had been sitting for almost 2 months. We had already lost much of our supplies. Some beer had reached sale by date, juices, mixers, milk, limes and lemons all had to be trashed, resulting in even more loss of revenue. Also, much of our prepackaged food that was not frozen items, was also trashed. On Wednesday May 6th, two Chesterfield County Deputies pulled into the parking lot. We were told we had to close our doors immediately, and was issued a ticket for “Violation of Governors Order”. When asked what we had violated, they weren't exactly sure. I showed them the new order, and they said “maybe because you sell prepackaged food, and no not have a DEHC inspection?”. I was confused because my understanding was the order was based off the licensing you held. Which we hold each license mentioned in the order. Retail sales, beer and wine on premises, and a business license.
We are begging for help. We are about to lose our business of 10 years. We have had 0 income for just shy of two months now. How are we suppose to pay a ticket when we can barely afford to feed our children at this point?? We are not criminals. We are “poor” working class citizens whose savings accounts could not withstand two months without income. We hold a federal identification number. We pay our taxes (monthly), buy our inventory from our federally regulated supplier. We contribute income to the state of SC. We went through a federal background check, fingers prints on file, just to be issued the license we pay money to hold. This is nothing more than discrimination. Maybe because we are a “private club”, maybe because we are women, or maybe it is even personal. Other businesses in the county, and all over South Carolina, that hold the exact same licensing as we do, have been allowed to remain open in one way or another. Private clubhouses at golf courses, other taverns around Rock Hill and Fort Mill, and many more around the state. We have absolutely had our constitutional rights trampled all over. I have documented every encounter, and phone conversation I have had with anyone since March 18th. Audio and video. I never thought I would see the day when a business was punished for earning an honest living.
Fundraising team (2)
Cherie Gooden
Organizer
Pageland, SC
Casey Maynor
Team member