Eatery tries to stem ‘great Encinitas mask debate’ amid pandemic
Coronavirus mandates important for community safety, business leaders remind residents
GOODONYA restaurant in Encinitas reopened July 3 after a pause in business because an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Upon reopening, the eatery opted to discontinue dine-in service ahead of a county order. (GOODONYA photo via its Facebook page)
July 8, 2020
Mask requirements put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic have led to backlash from customers at some local businesses.
The rules, which require customers to wear face coverings when entering businesses, have been especially fraught with debate as nonessential businesses have reopened after months of stay-at-home orders.
Recent social media posts have showed people yelling at employees and customers at establishments in Carlsbad, other coastal communities and elsewhere in San Diego County.
Kris Buchanan, owner and founder of GOODONYA in Encinitas, decided to close the restaurant and reopen solely for take-out and delivery on July 3 after one of her employees contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
However, Buchanan said she had been considering briefly closing the restaurant before the COVID-19 case because of backlash from some customers when they were asked to follow the mask requirements.

“The main reason really was to give our staff a break from what we call the ‘great Encinitas mask debate,’” Buchanan said in an interview. “(My employees) were getting yelled at, berated. People were being rude.”
In a public Facebook video to supporters on June 28, Buchanan said the behavior was affecting the staff.
“We have people coming into our restaurant screaming, yelling, making our staff cry,” she said in the video, which went viral in the community. “It’s hard to get yelled at when you care so much about your job.”
While Buchanan said in an interview that she understands the pushback on masks, she said her employees are the ones primarily affected by the requirements.
“I absolutely do not believe in wearing a mask for eight hours a day, and not giving yourself a break,” she said. “It can’t be healthy. So I absolutely understand that side of the debate, and guess who suffers through that? Us, not the customers. We have to wear it. They don’t.”
Levi Trinkle, general manager at The Roxy Encinitas, said the restaurant had a number of issues with customers refusing to wear masks or being unaware of the requirement when they first reopened over Memorial Day weekend. However, he added the situation has improved over time.
“It seems like as time has gone on, it’s gotten to where more people understand it and are abiding, but that first weekend that we reopened was definitely the hardest for us,” Trinkle said.
The Roxy initially hired someone to work at the door to tell customers about mask requirements and other rules, but later decided it was no longer necessary after customers adjusted to the new requirements, Trinkle said.
“I definitely still hear from people that they think it’s stupid or that they don’t want to do it,” he said. “But for us, because we’ve been so upfront right at the front door when you arrive that you have to have it, it hasn’t been much of a debate.”
While some businesses have faced opposition to the mask requirements, a much larger portion of customers have been complying with the rules, said Sherry Yardley, interim CEO of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce.
However, Yardley warned that if the coronavirus begins to spread more rapidly, it may once again lead to shutdowns.
… That’s what I feel some of those individuals in the public are not getting. They’re a threat to those businesses if those individuals are not complying by the rules.”
— Sherry Yardley, interim CEO, Encinitas Chamber of Commerce
As of July 7, the state and county mandated the closure of indoor dining.
“And that’s what I feel some of those individuals in the public are not getting,” Yardley said. “They’re a threat to those businesses if those individuals are not complying by the rules.”
Reopenings throughout the state and country have led to a jump in cases of COVID-19. As of July 8, Encinitas had 180 cases, an increase of nine from the county’s previous report on Monday; Carlsbad had 257; Oceanside has 545; and Solana Beach had 31, a revise downward by one, according to data from San Diego County.
San Diego County also joined 22 other counties on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 monitoring list on July 3.
In order to comply with state orders, the county announced that businesses, such as dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, zoos and museums, must close their indoor activities and remain closed for at least three weeks.
Irene Pyun, executive director at the Encinitas 101 Main Street Association, said in an email statement that some small-business owners are afraid they may lose their businesses in a second shut down.
In order to improve compliance with the requirements, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce recently launched a digital campaign in collaboration with the city of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Village Association to highlight businesses and employees in the area, said Bret Schanzenbach, president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.
These aren’t just faceless random people who are going to get hurt if we have to close down again. It’s people right in your own neighborhood.”
— Bret Schanzenbach, president and CEO, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
“(This campaign) is focused on — look, please follow these guidelines, because it’s your next door neighbor’s livelihood that’s at stake,” he said. “These aren’t just faceless random people who are going to get hurt if we have to close down again. It’s people right in your own neighborhood.”
The Cardiff 101 Main Street Association is also working with the city of Encinitas to help restaurants obtain extra outdoor dining to help relieve the situation, said Nina Cooper, communications director at Cardiff 101.
In downtown Encinitas, Coast Highway 101 has been reduced to single lanes with barriers along some portions to allow for expanded outdoor dining.
Schanzenbach added that due to lower levels of tourism than normal, it is particularly necessary for locals to patronize local businesses.
“We just need to do it in a way that keeps everybody safe and is respectful,” he said. “It’s not about ideological arguments about whether you should or should not be forced to do this or that in terms of masks or whatever. It’s just — think of your fellow citizens and their need to stay open and stay working and stay employed.”
Julia Shapero is an Encinitas freelance writer.
encinitas current, cardiff current
Idea: there are a lot of experienced bar bouncers out of work. Why not hire one to competently deal with the entitled customers?
I work locally in town in retail. I like the idea of businesses Having security guards.. However small businesses might not be able to afford them.. From my experience do not get into discussions with people that don’t have masks on. I ask them toput a mask on if they don’t we not serve them and of discussion.
My recommendation is to consider the science and temper all our reactions. Servers are not at undo risk from a client not wearing a mask and should serve them anyway. The science is not clear and there is no consensus as to the efficacy of the common nonmedical mask. The World Health Organization states, “The use of masks made of other materials (e.g. cotton fabric), also known as nonmedical masks, in the community setting has not be well evaluated. There is no current evidence to make a recommendation for or against their use in this setting.” A little love and tolerance goes a long way.
Maskless people are poster children for selfishness. David Bidwell’s stupid dissertation just said ‘we don’t know’ whether masks work or not, so until we know they don’t, go with the science that suggests we could knock out 65% of the virus with a mask. It doesn’t take more than 80 or 90 IQ points to realize that a mask intercepts a lot of vapor leaving your mouth and nose and if you are a symptom-free carrier, you can avoid spreading COVID. Use you head. Also, stores, restaurants, etc., are not public spaces. They are private property and open to the public. There is a bug difference. You do what they ask or you don’t enter. If it were up to me, I would write you name down and later on hunt you like one of Donnie Jr’s anger trophies.
So let’s deconstruct David Bidwell’s comment:
“My recommendation”: so, you are an epidemiologist? I just want to make sure.
“…is to consider the science…” And the science points to the fact that it is better to wear a mask than to not.
“…and temper all our reactions.”: You mean, unlike those irrational, self-serving, everybody pay attention to me! whiner that do no wear masks?
“Servers are not at undo risk”: Once again, I just want to make sure you have training in the medical field. Please confirm.
“…from a client not wearing a mask and should serve them anyway.”: NO. In a restaurant, which is a private establishment, you follow THEIR orders. In YOUR house you do as you like, but you DO NOT walk into someone else’s establishment and tell them how to run their business.
“The science is not clear…”: The science is very clear.
“…and there is no consensus…”: Yes there is. What is uncertain is how bad this thing is going to get if people do not behave as adults.
“…as to the efficacy of the common nonmedical mask.”: Then all the need to be more careful and wear the best mask you can get your hands on. And if that’s not good, don’t expose others and just stay at home and eat your own food.
“The World Health Organization states, “The use of masks made of other materials (e.g. cotton fabric), also known as nonmedical masks, in the community setting has not be well evaluated.”: If this is indeed the case, THEN ALL THE MORE REASON TO GO UNNECESSARILY EXPOSING PEOPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
“There is no current evidence to make a recommendation for or against their use in this setting.””: THEN WEAR ONE. BE AN ADULT.
“A little love and tolerance goes a long way.”: Your only correct assertion in your statement. Yes, a little love and tolerance goes a long way. So, don’t act like a baby, wear a mask, show a little love to your fellow human beings, AND FOLLOW THE RULES WHEN IN PUBLIC AND WHEN ACCESSING A PRIVATE BUSINESS.