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Mask Policy Is Not the Reason for Texas Diner’s Closing

Maxim Sorokopud Maxim Sorokopud
Business
28th August 2021
Mask Policy Is Not the Reason for Texas Diner’s Closing
The sign about masks was intended as a joke (Getty Images).

The Claim

A Texas diner is closing because it displayed a sign informing customers that they would pay hefty fines for questioning its mask policy.

Emerging story

A recent report from The Dallas Morning News has claimed that Legends Diner, located in Denton, Texas, was closing due to its mask policy. This diner had previously gone viral earlier this year for putting up a sign that warned customers they would be fined $50 if the owner needed to explain the mask policy and $75 if customers wanted to debate the policy. 

The claim that the mask policy caused the closure has been widely shared on social media. The Facebook post by the newspaper gained hundreds of interactions within days. On Twitter, this news has been shared by popular accounts, such as the account belonging to the actor Morgan Fairchild. 

A supporting image within the article body
A supporting image within the article body
A supporting image within the article body

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar’s investigation has uncovered credible news sources that provide a different explanation for the closure of Legends Diner. During an interview with local news station Fox 4 owner Wayne Lacombe explained the reasons for the closure as being due to construction that was taking place in front of the diner, the rising coronavirus case count keeping customers home, the difficulty in hiring employees, and finally, a recent heart attack. 

He does not list the mask policy specifically as a reason for the closure, although the sign about the mask fines is mentioned at one point. Lacombe explains that it was meant to be a joke. 

In an interview with 5 NBCDFW, Lacombe also blamed the rising coronavirus case numbers for a drop in business, as well as the construction project. The report states that the impact that the mask sign has on business is unknown. 

In the Dallas Morning News article that people are sharing online, Lacombe states that people’s reluctance to comply with mask-wearing has affected his business. But he also lists the other reasons for the closure. Therefore, we consider this article to be misleading, as, according to the other sources, the non-mask policy issues appear to be the primary reasons for the closure.

Misbar’s Classification

Misleading

Misbar’s Sources

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