Crystal Lake Health Foods court date pushed back

Crystal Lake Health Foods’ court appearance Thursday for alleging violating COVID-19 regulations was continued to Jan. 21.

The business was scheduled to enter a plea Thursday morning in connection with an ordinance violation filed against the store in December. Staff and patrons are accused of not wearing masks at the store on Nov. 21, according to a complaint filed in McHenry County court.

The charge followed months of run-ins with the McHenry County Department of Health and cease-and-desist letters being exchanged, health department records show.

A representative of Crystal Lake Health Foods contacted the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office ahead of Thursday’s court date to ask for more time in light of the owner’s death, McHenry County State’s Attorney Civil Division Chief Norm Vinton said Thursday.

The store did not have an attorney on file to represent them in the matter as of Thursday afternoon, court records show. A store representative declined to comment via Facebook.

In the meantime, the business will need to determine who will represent them in court moving forward, Vinton said.

Although the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has said it will not enforce the governor’s ban on indoor dining, prosecutors will enforce related orders requiring employees and customers to wear masks, maintain social distancing and adhere to capacity limitations.