CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The owner of a Centennial bistro which was ordered to close Thursday after receiving several warnings to comply with the Tri-County Health Department’s public health order will be allowed to reopen, but only for curbside pickup and to-go orders.
In a statement Friday, the Tri-County Health Department said it had been working with owner Jennifer Hulan over the past day to get Waters Edge Winery & Bistro reopened and said Hulan “agreed to a change of course” and will now follow all public health orders issued by the health department.
“We appreciate the rapid cooperation of Waters Edge Winery in complying with the relevant Public Health Orders. Our goal is to help everyone in our community, both residents and businesses, get back to the highest level of normalcy we can achieve with COVID-19 in a safe and healthy manner,” said John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department. “It will take every one of us following the guidelines and all of the prevention measures to fight COVID-19 and safely reopen our economy.”
Waters Edge Winery & Bistro was ordered to close Thursday following more than a dozen complaints about the business, which boasted about their Cinco de Mayo celebration on their Facebook page.
Earlier this week, Denver7 went undercover into the restaurant and found the patio buzzing with patrons. At least nine people were sitting outside. A sign advertised “wine and food to-go,” but much more was offered inside.
“We’re about freedom here,” Hulan told Denver7 on Monday, who openly admitted their doors were open as of May 1.
The current Tri-County Health Department public health order has not allowed restaurants to operate for dine-in service since March 19.
Under the new agreement, Hulan will be offering curbside pickup and to-go orders starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. Wine by the glass will also be offered, Hulan said in a Facebook live video.
The owner of the bistro also said she is speaking with an attorney to get the restaurant fully open.
Governor Jared Polis on Friday said he was hopeful restaurants, bars and campsites can reopen this month, but cautioned that it will ultimately be scientific data which will guide the decision on when and how those establishments open.
