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A Lewis County restaurant and bar once featured on Food Network鈥檚 “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” has had its liquor license stripped by the state of Washington. Owner/chef Laurel Khan blames the government for crying 鈥渇ear, fear, fear.鈥�

Mackinaw’s – a popular farm-to-table restaurant with its self-described 鈥淐hicago-style hip-city bar鈥� vibe in Chehalis 鈥� has been under scrutiny by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board enforcement team since December 2020 for refusing to temporarily close during a statewide COVID-19 outbreak nearly a year ago.

After four violations filed by the board against the business 鈥� and four appeals of each – enforcement officials revoked Khan鈥檚 liquor license and seized Mackinaw鈥檚 remaining alcohol a few days before Christmas.

Why the opposition to state mandates? Dori asked Khan.

She told Dori Monson Show listeners that while traveling the country over the past 18 months, she saw restaurants under far less severe restrictions in other states. Khan feels Washington state鈥檚 approach is government overreach.

While facing early shut-down and mask mandate orders from the state, Khan told Dori, 鈥淚 knew I had to handle this differently 鈥� for my patrons, my staff, our well-being, our mental well-being especially.鈥�

Even as the first violations were filed against her establishment, Khan shared with listeners, she decided 鈥淚鈥檓 not shutting down鈥� and opted to 鈥渞un my business as normal.鈥�

What鈥檚 normal, she says, is 鈥渢o gather, to hug, to strengthen ourselves mentally … and not be isolated.鈥�

Khan says she saw no 鈥渃ommon sense鈥� in the difference between how 鈥渢he Safeways, the Costcos, the WalMarts鈥� were being treated while she felt a 鈥渢humb down on the neck鈥� of 鈥渁ll the little guys.鈥�

Over the past two weeks, Dori pointed out, Washington state has seen the country鈥檚 ninth-highest spread of the Omicron variant despite having one of the most stringent mask mandates in the U.S. Some listeners remain frustrated at the tens of thousands of unmasked fans at Seahawk and Kraken games and indoor concerts 鈥� calling out a double standard between King County and the remainder of the state.

Meanwhile, the liquor license seizure has forced Mackinaw鈥檚 to change its business license to serving 鈥渇ood only.鈥�

So what鈥檚 next? Dori asked.

鈥淚 have to think there is a silver lining,鈥� Khan says, adding, 鈥淚 will win the battle, if I just go rogue.鈥�

Additionally, Khan has filed to run for governor of Washington state. The next gubernatorial election is on Nov. 5, 2024.

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from noon 鈥� 3 p.m. on 成人X站 Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the聽podcast here.