New name, same result. 72nd Eatery, located at 261 Columbus Avenue between West 72nd and 73rd Streets, has been shut down by the Health Department.
On March 3, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued 72nd Eatery a failing grade for violations, including evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment’s food or non-food areas and inadequate personal cleanliness among food handlers, among other issues.
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Alas, it doesn’t seem like much has changed.
“I enjoyed sitting at the table by the window, enjoying coffee and reading the news on my phone or talking to my sister in Boston by phone,” said Katina Ellison, founder and co-leader of the West 71st Street Block Association, who first alerted ILTUWS to the failed health inspection by 72nd Eatery. Now she’s not as sure about her patronage. “I am disinclined to go back, but I probably would just for coffee,” although she told us she just rediscovered Muffins Café.
What really has Ellison upset is that the yellow notice from the Health Department, which informs people that 72nd Eatery has been closed for health violations, has been covered up multiple times, she told us.
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“I guess an owner or manager has covered it, but I am very bothered, as the sign explicitly says it is illegal to cover or remove it. So, they are flouting the law just as they did with conditions at the restaurant.”
The Health Department cited the following violations during its visit to 72nd Eatery:
1) Personal cleanliness is inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn where required. Jewelry worn on hands or arms. Fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.
2) Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor. 3) Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses. 4) Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment’s food or non-food areas. 5) Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F. 6) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. 7) Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.ILTUWS has reached out to 72nd Eatery for comment on how it plans to regain the neighborhood’s trust following this latest infraction. We will update the story if we receive a response.
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What is it with these people defying the law so brazenly and with zero regard to consequences? The notice posted on the door cannot be covered. Period.
Barzini’s did the same thing when they were ordered to close and defied the order by starting open.
What’s happening here? Why do these folks feel they are somehow above the law?
Answer: Someone, most likely a senior staff member at the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene would have to (a) bother reading the complaint(s) of sign blockage or removal, e.g. as in the case of Police Department “DO NOT CROSS” yellow tape forbidding entrance and trespassing which happens more than anyone cares to admit; (b) call it in to the local precinct community policing division; and then (c) wait for them to get around to it in between what they call “real” police duties, i.e. crime-fighting…on their terms. In other words, somewhere between next week and never. From muggings to concrete blocks to the head and outright assault, from automobile break-ins to turnstile jumping, these daily repeated crimes run the gamut from misdemeanors to outright felonies. However, nowadays unless the police themselves are eye witnesses to the crimes the likelihood of apprehending these criminals much less successfully prosecuting them with anything close to a sentence requiring time served in prison, is, and I hate to say it, slim to none. If someone like the current resident of the White House — let’s all agree not to ever call a serial molester, wife cheating, twice-impeached felon “president” again…”Comrade Trump” as Putin’s chief asset on Pennsylvania Avenue is perfectly accurate — can pardon 1,600 insurrectionists who otherwise attacked and savaged Capitol police and security officials and vandalized and destroyed public property, then in the febrile minds of people who would do us harm for going about our day, nothing is worth being taken seriously because it won’t be by most civil servants from mayors and district attorneys on down.
Because in Nyc if you break the law 98 out of 100 times nothing will happen to you.
Paul,
The point is that it happened to the joint that used to occupy the space, and now it’s the same owner, but a different name.
shame it was much cleaner and food looked appetizing shame as it is one of few along.other than zuckers bodegas on lenwich
Try Sido. And the coffee’s excellent at Black Press across Columbus.
Zucker’s really doesn’t have good bagels.