Taco stand reopens 2 SoCal locations it closed over conflicts with anti-mask customers

ATWATER VILLAGE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Hugo's Tacos in Studio City is open again and the Atwater Village location is set to reopen Monday after conflicts with customers over face coverings led to a temporary closure.

Owners recently decided to shut down both taco shops after customers acted out, sometimes violently, at workers who asked them to wear masks.

In a Facebook post from late June, Hugo's Tacos announced that its restaurants in Atwater Village and Studio City would "take a break and recharge" after "constant conflicts" concerning guests who refused to wear a mask when ordering food from the taco stands.

As several videos have recently surfaced showing irate customers refusing to wear face coverings in public spaces throughout Southern California, one business is temporarily closing both of its locations to keep its employees safe.

"Staff have been harassed, called names, and had objects and liquids thrown at them," the post said. "A mask isn't symbolic of anything other than our desire to keep our staff healthy."

Since then, Hugo's Tacos says it has received a lot of encouragement from the community.

The business says new protocols and equipment are in place to keep employees safe.

There will be a security guard during peak hours, along with an increased emphasis on curbside services.