Coronavirus

The state dropped its case against a Fredericksburg-area restaurateur that defied orders to comply with Gov. Ralph Northam's coronavirus pandemic protocols.

The move comes after Spotsylvania County Circuit Court Judge Richard Rigual in March ruled in favor of the restaurant after the stated tried to shut it down for defying Northam's Executive order which, among other things, ordered restaurants to operate at 50% capacity, prevent anyone from bellying up to the bar, and to require customers and employees wear masks.

Gourmeltz, the diner known for its oversized grilled cheese sandwiches, defied the governor during the duration of the pandemic. Northam lifted the mask mandate for unvaccinated people on May 15 and all remaining coronavirus restrictions on May 28.

At a press conference held at the Gourmeltz restaurant today, owner Matt Strickland, his wife Maria, and their attorney former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, of Georgia, now the head of Liberty Guard, said the restaurant's health department license would soon be restored.

"I'm glad that things went the way they did," said Strickland," We stood up for our rights against the government, for the rights of other restaurants, for the rights of the community."

Stickland's attorney Bob Barr, whose organization Liberty Guard funded the defense, claimed victory in the case saying that if the Virginia Government decided to go after Strickland again on these matters that they were prepared to fight again. Liberty Guard provided pro-bono legal services to the restaurant, Strickland told PLN. 

Strickland, an Army veteran, refused to comply with the state's orders, calling them unconstitutional. In court, the state described the restaurant as a threat to the community. 

"So, last week, I was a 'substantial and imminent threat to the community,' and this week I'm good to go," said Strickland.

Gourmeltz received regional attention in February when hundreds of people, coming from as far away as Baltimore, lined up to dine at the restaurant, to support Strickland's business. 

Gourmeltz is located at 10013 Jefferson Davis Highway in Spotsylvania County.