The south-end Barrie restaurant that has been at the forefront of the lockdown debate for more than a week has made an about-face and appears to now be complying with authorities.
Simmering Kettle owner Shalu Persaud was thrust into the media spotlight when she continued with in-house dining at the Bryne Drive restaurant, going against the provincial government’s stay-at-home order that went into effect April 8.
After several fines and notices in the interim, Persaud took to Facebook Live this morning filming herself at the City of Barrie Court Services building on Cedar Pointe Drive indicating she was paying the fines.
Persaud was also handing in her application to reinstate her city business licence for the Simmering Kettle, which expired Feb. 2.
BarrieToday contacted Persaud on Friday seeking comment on why she had now decided to move to take-out/pick-up only at her business. She politely declined, directing a reporter to her Facebook Live videos.
In Friday’s video, where Persaud hands in required paperwork to court services, she speaks about why her businesses had a change of heart.
“After getting punched left, right and centre all week long, I needed a break and my staff needed a break,” she said on the video. “If the other restaurants that are closed don’t understand, there was an overwhelming response from the community. We could not keep up (and) we’re all exhausted, so we are complying because we need a break.”
When Persaud was visited by city bylaw officers at her establishment on Wednesday, she told them she was “operating under common law and I do not consent to contract with your corporation, and that is my reasoning for not renewing it.”
Persaud was allowing people to eat inside the restaurant prior to Thursday. That morning, she posted an emotional video where she mentioned hearing two local radio personalities addressing the Simmering Kettle situation and how they disagreed with it.
Persaud said it was hard to hear other people disagree with her anti-lockdown stance and her view on wearing a mask.
“I am not an expert. I never claimed to be. I have a mask exemption, so I do not wear a mask,” Persaud claimed in the Facebook Live video. “And because I have that, I respect and understand when other people have it.”
About an hour after that video, another Facebook Live video went up showing Persaud speaking to Barrie fire department officials, who said they had received a complaint. Fire officials said they wanted to ensure the restaurant's doors were being left unlocked, or that someone was standing by the doors constantly if they were locked, as it is against fire safety regulations.
That is when Persaud said she was not allowing dine-in patrons and had moved entirely to take-out and pick-up only, which is allowed under the provincial lockdown rules.
Early Thursday afternoon, public health officials also stopped by to confirm that Persaud was complying with the rules. In the video, it shows they left satisfied with what the Simmering Kettle owner was now doing.
