On April 16, 2020, deputies were conducting a non-essential business compliance check at Kitchen Table Games, located at 9600 66th Street North, Suite E, in Pinellas Park, after receiving numerous complaint tips stating the business was violating the “Safer-At-Home” Order.
While conducting the compliance check, deputies observed the business to be open, watched employees interact with customers, and noted Kitchen Table Games to be operating as a non-essential business.
According to deputies, response teams were called to the business on multiple occasions, after receiving complaint tips on April 3, 2020, twice on April 7, 2020, April 10, 2020, and April 16, 2020.
The owner, 36-year-old Galen Wood of St. Petersburg, was issued warnings on each of these occasions, would become argumentative with deputies, and refused to close.
After observing the multiple violations on April 16, 2020, deputies made contact with Wood, who again refused to cease from operating.
Wood was taken into custody at approximately 6:10 p.m. and charged with Operating a Non-Essential Business and Travelling to Operate a Non Essential Business.
Wood was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident.
Kitchen Table Games is listed as a business where gamers come out to try out new games or their favorites with others in a “homey feel” environment. Customers play games such as Magic, Yugioh, Pokemon, and Dragon Ball Super.
The investigation continues.