The owner of a Palmerton eatery says it was reported for dining on the premises, but it will remain open.

Bert’s Steakhouse and Restaurant has been open for takeout and delivery. But just days before the county transitioned to yellow last Friday, the restaurant opened its doors to dine-in customers on a limited basis.

“As of (May 22) Friday, we move into yellow where take out and delivery is preferred … but we’ve had enough!” the restaurant previously posted on Facebook.

“We still have bills to pay and soon our name would be on the ‘closed permanently’ list.”

On Wednesday the restaurant posted the shutdown: “Well folks, it really grinds my gears to have to announce this … but thanks to someone calling in a complaint, snitching, etc., we will not be allowed to have dine-in service until Carbon is in green.”

However this morning, owner Tracey Downing said the restaurant remains open for dine-in services. She said the restaurant was not cited or warned, but it was suggested that they stop dine-in services.

“We both have bills to pay,” Downing said. “I’m not getting any income from this right now except for some of the apartments; we have placed orders and we need to stay open.”

Downing said those who have dined in have lauded the business for offering dine-in service.

“And we have lot of people who have no problem with coming in, and have actually complimented us and thanked us for staying open,” she said. “We have enough space to do social distancing with the three rooms.”

Downing added, “I don’t care; I’m staying open. I’m not cowering to them. So many people are like, ‘we are so tired of staying in the house, and it felt so good to get out.’?”

“We have not been slammed; just three of four people in one room, the other room we spread out.”

Downing said her business operates primarily on dine-in customers.

“You can’t just order food and then stop, order food and then stop; you still have to take care of your equipment,” she said. “For us, takeout is only 10 percent.”

Downing said that while customers have placed takeout orders, it hasn’t been nearly enough for the business to stay afloat.

Downing said customers like to experience the dine-in option the business provides.

“People come in to listen to the music, sit down and be with their friends,” she said. “It’s so easy in this building to space out.”

Regardless of the governor’s reopening plan, Downing remained adamant that the business will stay open to dine-in services.

“We’re not yo-yos; we have gas bills, electric, the dumpsters we’re still paying for, the grease, everything we’re still paying for,” she said. “Even when you have takeout, you’re running the gas grill all day for very few takeouts.”

Downing said customers can be assured that everything is safe for them to dine-in at the restaurant.

“If I don’t open, we’re going to be closed forever,” she said. “No one here is sick; if anyone was sick, we take their temps, we wouldn’t let them work.”

Downing said the business is appreciative of its customers.

“Everybody has been super nice that has been coming in here,” she said. “And thanked us.”

Bert’s opened May 18 with limited menu and limited staff, and said it would be distancing everyone in its three separate rooms where needed. Sanitizer is located at the door, staff wore masks and gloves, and only one person was at the register at a time. Each booth/table was sanitized before the next patrons are seated.