Myrtle Beach police bust North Kings Highway bar with customers despite coronavirus order
Myrtle Beach police busted a North Kings Highway bar with customers inside despite the state’s order closure during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report.
An officer went to Foster’s Cafe and Bar, 6307 N. Kings Hwy, around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday after a person complained the establishment was serving to the public.
When the officer arrived, there were cars parked in the bar’s parking lot, according to a police report.
There were also patrons inside the bar drinking alcohol, according to the report. The customers sat near each other at the bar and the tables around the bar.
Foster’s bartender was serving the customers when the officer was inside, the report states.
The officer spoke to the bar’s owner Donald Fonda Jr., 65, and told him about the South Carolina executive order that demands bars close during the COVID-19 pandemic. Police charged Fonda with violating the order.
Fonda told The Sun News he was aware they were skirting the rules when they served people a drink or two as they waited for their take-out order. He added the people inside the establishment were practicing social distancing and staying feet apart.
He said they were trying to make a bit extra money to help support the business and pay employees while they are forced to only serve take-out during the outbreak.
“We had to do what we had to do,” Fonda said.
After the charge, Fonda said they will no longer serve people as they wait on their take-out order.
Earlier this month, the Georgetown Sheriff’s Office busted Tito’s in Murrells Inlet for allegedly violating the state’s order. Ten people were cited in connection to that incident.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 1:08 PM.
