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Murphy says he didn’t see the indoor diners at Nicholas Barrel and Roost

Governor Phil Murphy said on Friday that he did not see people dining indoors at Nicholas Barrel and Roost when he dined there outdoors on Wednesday evening.

The Governor, speaking to reporters in Metuchen following an announcement of childcare funding, compared the restaurant to another one he’s visited during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he didn’t bring a tape measure to see if the restaurant is in compliance with his Executive Order-163 which requires that 50% of the establishment’s wall space be open.

To his credit, Murphy said that if the restaurateur is not in compliance with his 50% rule, that he has what’s coming to him.

While I was writing the original story on Wednesday night, a source tipped me off that the Attorney General’s Office was prepared to rule in favor Nicholas’s creative interpretation of EO-163–that two walls had to be 50% open, rather than that the entire structure had to be 50% open. If that was the case, hundreds, if not thousands, of the New Jersey restaurants could have been hosting indoor dining since July 8 when Murphy signed EO-163. Some of my personal favorites, Bahrs’ Landing and One Willow in Highlands could have accommodated indoor dining with little or no renovations to their dining areas throughout July and August. They didn’t.

It’s hard to imagine that Murphy didn’t see the crowed Barrel Room diners when he arrived on Wednesday evening at about 7:25 p.m, after the Middletown Police had already left. Perhaps he went out of his way not to look. If he didn’t know, that would be because his State Police Security Detail didn’t tell him—also hard to imagine– but possible.

Murphy’s advance Security Detail was observed by this writer arriving at the restaurant at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The Trooper entered the restaurant at 6:09 p.m. and exited to a black Suburan at 6:10 p.m.

The Trooper sat in the SUV, which was facing the restaurant, as cars were parked and about 40 patrons entered from 6:10 until the Middletown Police showed up at about 6:45. Middletown Deputy Police Chief John Kaiser and a Sergeant completed their investigation and left at about 7:05. Murphy and his party showed up at about 7:25. Published reports that the Middletown Police were present while Murphy was dining are not accurate.

As State Senator Declan O’Scanlon said on twitter yesterday morning, Nicholas Harary, the restaurant’s proprietor, is not the bad guy here.

Hopefully Murphy will issue Executive Order-182 on Monday or Tuesday and that Order will allow indoor dining with truly reasonable and scientifically sound guidelines—not based on obscure reports out of New Zealand and China– but based on the experience of other American states and the underground indoor dining that has been happening speakeasy style in New Jersey all summer.

Note to MMM commentors: Please don’t try to post the names and locations of other restaurants that have been hosting indoor dining all summer—like you tried to do here on the original story about Murphy dining at Nicholas Barrel and Roost.

Note to social media commentors: I’m not out to hurt Nicholas because I hate Murphy. I’m not out to hurt Nicholas at all and I don’t hate Murphy. I think Murphy is in over his head and/or that he’s making his decisions based on faulty political calculus rather than on science.

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Posted: August 29th, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: COVID-19, New Jersey, Phil Murphy | Tags: , , , | 4 Comments »

4 Comments on “Murphy says he didn’t see the indoor diners at Nicholas Barrel and Roost”

  1. Fed Up said at 9:06 am on August 29th, 2020:

    Open the polling places, no mail in make believe in NJ. Time for the nonsense to end!!

  2. Let’s start said at 10:29 pm on August 29th, 2020:

    by perhaps agreeing on one good candidate to run against him, next year: rather than our usual, 4 or 5 people running all over, sectionalizing north vs. south Jersey, with expensive primaries, dividing our already obscenely outnumbered party. Gotta say, his timing’s great: raise the hell out of most taxes this year, have us dopes get used to being squeezed yet again, then, bang, re- election time- and he/ they know it. Frustrating to watch/ endure, yet again.

  3. Phil said at 11:34 am on August 30th, 2020:

    Gov Murphys power has went to his head!!!
    Control freak!! Ruining people’s livelihood, mean while he’s living large!!! Does he know the ripping effects of not allowing indoor dining?? He’s crippling people!!!
    Shame shame shame on him

  4. @Phil said at 3:49 pm on August 30th, 2020:

    Cease and desist buddy, that slogan is trademarked by me!