FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Editor's Note: The video above first aired Dec. 2, 2022.
A restaurant in Fredericksburg, Virginia will soon be able to serve alcohol to customers again after having its liquor license suspended by ABC back in November.
Effective Dec. 23, 2022, the Virginia ABC is reinstating the mixed beverage and wine and beer licenses of Gourmeltz.
This reinstatement comes after Virginia ABS and Gourmeltz entered into a consent agreement resolving all issues associated with the serving of alcohol products without the proper license to do so at the restaurant.
Alcohol products, less beer and wine products that have expired, are unsaleable or not safe for human consumption, seized pursuant to a search warrant on Dec. 2, 2022, will be made available to Gourmeltz on Dec. 23, 2022, according to a news release.
Virginia ABC estimates the product not returned due to spoilage is valued at $4,000.
Gourmeltz has provided Virginia ABC with an affidavit that confirms no alcohol was sold during the suspension at the restaurant that began on Dec. 2 and ended on Dec. 23.
The restaurant repeatedly made headlines for defying Virginia's COVID mandates during the height of the pandemic.
According to ABC, here is the timeline of their involvement with Gourmeltz:
- Jan. 28, 2021: Virginia Department of Health’s Rappahannock Area Health District summarily suspends Gourmeltz’s health permit for not following the COVID-19 public health requirements in the governor’s Executive Order.
- March 4 and March 18, 2021: Virtual informal conference and formal ABC hearing. ABC finds that Gourmeltz willfully and knowingly ignored the Code of Virginia § 4.1-225 2.a. (requires licensees to conform to local health requirements) and revokes their license on March 31, 2021. Action on the license is stayed pending Gourmeltz appealing the decision of the administrative law judge to ABC’s Board of Directors.
- Aug. 20, 2021: Appeal hearing by ABC’s Board of Directors
- Sept. 1, 2021: ABC issues a final decision and order modifying the hearing officer’s decision from a revocation to a suspension of Gourmeltz’s wine/beer on and off-premises and mixed beverage licenses. ABC grants a stay on the Board Order to allow Gourmeltz the opportunity to appeal to circuit court.
- Aug. 4, 2022: Circuit Court of Spotsylvania County hearing
- Oct. 26, 2022: The trial judge issues a letter of opinion affirming the ABC Board Order in all respects.
- Nov. 10, 2022: Circuit Court of Spotsylvania County issues a final Order affirming the Board Order in all respects.
- Nov. 15, 2022: ABC serves the Board Order suspending Gourmeltz’s beer and wine license and the mixed beverage license for a period of 90 days. The suspension would be reduced to 15 days upon the payment of a $4,000 penalty and $6,469.18 in investigation costs.
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