A Castleberry Hill restaurant and bar co-owned by rapper 2 Chainz was shut down by police May 24 after violating state COVID-19 guidelines.
Escobar Restaurant & Tapas, located at 327 Peter St. SW, was shut down by Georgia Department of Public Safety after officers initially issued a warning early May 24 that the establishment was in violation of state guidelines by not enforcing social distancing and by having more than 10 patrons per 300 square feet.
Officers returned late May 24 after reports that Escobar continued to violate guidelines.
The incident was first written about by TMZ.
Photos and videos on the restaurant's Instagram story showed a full restaurant, with patrons smoking hookah and sitting close together at tables and the bar.
Typically, if a restaurant appears to be violating the guidelines, the Georgia Department of Health will investigate the complaint.
“If DPH receives a complaint about a facility not adhering to the guidelines, a health inspector will visit the facility to verify the complaint,” according to DPH Director of Communications Nancy Nydam. “If guidelines are not being followed, the inspector will provide education on what steps must be followed. If the facility continues to disregard the guidelines, Public Safety may be called in to assist.”
2 Chainz and co-owner Mychel "Snoop" Dillard reversed their decision to reopen Escobar on April 27, instead using their restaurant's inventory to feed the homeless and provide meals to residents in the neighborhood.
Escobar reopened for dine-in service earlier this month, just before Gov. Brian Kemp issued revised safety guidelines for restaurants.
The new orders increase the maximum table size from six to 10 and permit 10 patrons per 300 square feet of public space instead of the previously mandated 500 square feet.
A representative for the restaurant said 2 Chainz and Dillard were not commenting on the incident with police.
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