Norwalk mayor calls out IHOP over mask policy
Norwalk Mayor Rick Ramirez speaks at a public event Wednesday. (Photo by Vincent Medina)
NORWALK – The Norwalk IHOP denied service to an unidentified family of four on Sunday after the group refused to wear masks inside the restaurant for protection against COVID-19.
LA County Department of Public Health adjusted its mask policy on March 4, lifting the mask requirement for indoor public settings but strongly recommending people continue to wear them. The statement also said businesses may continue requiring masks for employees and patrons.
General manager Marisol Dominguez described the incident to her supervisor, Maria Ruiz, in an email.
“A family of four came to dine in, they were not wearing a mask so Juan Vasquez the host asked them if they had a mask. The father told them that they didn’t because they don’t need one anymore,” Dominguez said. “Juan told him that in LA county we still can request they wear masks and if they don’t have one we can provide them with one. To this they replied ‘no.’”
Dominguez alleges that she arrived and continued to explain to the group that the establishment still has the right to request a mask, and offered to sit them in the patio area. However, the family left the restaurant saying they were going to report the incident.
The family notified Mayor Rick Ramirez of the incident and took to Instagram to criticize the local business.
“Has anyone experienced being denied service at Norwalk IHOP, because they were not wearing masks after CA and the LA County lifted those mandates,” the mayor wrote in his caption. “No one should be denied pancakes! This is not acceptable. I received a complaint from a family that was asked to leave for not wearing masks. Put them on notice @ihop.”
Ramirez declined to share the family’s name but described the email they sent him detailing the incident.
“The family of four walked in there maskless, they were seated maskless, but they were denied service because they didn’t have a mask,” Ramirez said.
The Norwalk IHOP has three signs posted on the door stating the establishment requires patrons to wear a mask, and three additional signs requesting proof of vaccination.
The Mayor continued to say that if he was asked to wear a mask when entering a business, he would follow their rules.
“I’m a law-abiding citizen,” the mayor said. “I respect the establishment. If they say I need to wear a mask then I’ll wear a mask.”