KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rae's Cafe, whose owner has been back-and-forth with Jackson County, Missouri, officials over complying with COVID-19 public health orders, is relocating to Independence.
Amanda Wohletz, owner of the cafe, confirmed to KSHB 41 News that the restaurant is moving from Blue Springs to Independence.
Wohletz did not want to disclose the exact location, but did say the location would be near Missouri 291. More details are coming Wednesday.
The cafe was shut down for not following the county's mask requirement.
Independence city councilman Mike Huff told KSHB 41 News the city will welcome Rae's Cafe with open arms.
Independence has its own health department and does not have a mask requirement.
On Sept. 3, Wohletz continued serving guests despite the county revoking their food permit.
"That little sign on the door is supposed to shut me down for real but I'm not backing down," Wohletz told KSHB 41 News that day.
The following day, Rae's opened as private club, charging people a $1 membership fee. They came up with a dress code that didn't allow masks.
The following week, a Jackson County judge ordered the restaurant to close and issued a temporary restraining order.
On Sept. 11, more than a 100 people gathered outside the restaurant in support, joined by the Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and state representative Jeff Coleman.
On Sept. 23, a Jackson County ruled that a restraining order should remain in place for Rae's Cafe until Wohletz complied with the county's mask mandate. The doors closed for good.
And now, they have a new home in Independence.
Jackson County first ordered Wohletz to close the cafe on Sept. 3, because the county said it received numerous complaints about mask violations.
Huff said he worked to help Wohletz relocate.
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