“We opened up and we did not anticipate the business that we have,” said Lisa Monet Zarza, one of the Lakeville restaurant’s owners, during a Monday appearance on Fox News. “We did not anticipate the kickback from the state.”

Zarza noted that since reopening, Alibi Drinkery was served with a temporary injunction, a restraining order, a lawsuit from the state and a contempt of court order.

The Minnesota Department of Health also filed a lawsuit against Alibi Drinkery for operating without a license on January 22 in a district court, according to a Saturday press release.

According to the release, the department notified Alibi Drinkery on December 22 that its license to operate as a food and beverage service establishment would be suspended after 20 days. The license was set to expire on December 31.

Despite the lack of a license, the health department said, the restaurant continued to operate in violation of state law.

“We do not take enforcement actions lightly,” said Dan Huff, the department’s assistant commissioner, in the release. “Even when there is no pandemic, the public depends upon the licensing of bars and restaurants as a basic public health measure, which is why the Legislature requires that bars and restaurants have an active license in order to serve to the public.”

Asked why she decided to reopen the restaurant, Zarza said, “There were a lot of different reasons,” which included ensuring Alibi Drinkery’s survival and aiding her staff.

“We opened right before Christmas. Our staff needed money. Unemployment was not doing it for any of our staff members,” Zarza said. “We also did it for the fact that we weren’t going to be able to get through another three months.”

Zarza added that it was her “right as a business owner to open.”

“It was an unconstitutional executive order by our governor that singled restaurant industries out and shut us down with little to no data showing that we were the superspreaders that they were claiming,” Zarza said.

In November, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order that banned all services at bars and restaurants, with the exception of takeout and delivery. In mid-December, the restrictions were eased to allow outdoor dining.

“I have everything to lose by opening our business,” said Zarza. It “was probably one of the most selfless thing that I’ve ever done in my life.”

She added that since reopening she has received mixed feedback. She has received support from thousands of people across the country but has also heard from thousands “reaching out, telling us to kill ourselves and that we should die, our families should die, our employees should die.”

The co-owner added that her two establishments have been vandalized.

“It was insane. I just thought we were going to open up our restaurants and our customers were going to come back in status quo,” Zarza said. “This was not at all what I thought was going to happen.” Another sports bar, Alibi @Froggy Bottoms, is in Northfield.

Last month, Alibi Drinkery was the target of a lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for defying Walz’s order.

When reached for comment, Zarza told Newsweek on Monday she is running for lieutenant governor in 2022. “Minnesota needs a change,” she said.

Newsweek reached out for comment to the Minnesota Department of Health and Walz’s office but didn’t hear back in time for publication.