Chick-fil-A’s first standalone location in the Big Apple opened just three months ago, but it is already facing what appears to be big trouble. The restaurant, famous for its chicken sandwich, remains closed after receiving six health code violations in late December.
And company officials have not said when the franchise might reopen; sorry New Yorkers.
Leon Stafford of the Atlanta Journal Constitution explained why the Atlanta-based restaurant chain was forced to close its doors:
Chick-fil-A’s lone Big Apple store remained closed Monday as the Atlanta fast-food giant continued to address health code violations, including the presence of fruit flies.
The company said it closed its 5,000-square-foot New York City flagship store last Wednesday “to make facility and procedural changes that will better meet the needs of serving our guests while operating in a very busy urban environment. “
It is unclear when the store will reopen.
“We do have a little more work to complete so we have made the decision to remain closed until we feel confident we are exceeding standards in all areas,” the company said in a Monday release. “Thank you for your support and patience.”
In addition to fruit flies, the store’s violations includes failure to maintain cold food temperatures, improper storage of an empty container and unsanitized wiping cloths.
Tim Marcin of the International Business Times included a quote from a company spokesperson detailing the decision to remain close:
The location closed on Dec. 30 after an inspection on Christmas Eve ended in 59 violation points for infractions that included food not being protected from potential contamination, the presence of flies and cold food stored at too-warm temperatures. More than 28 violation points would result in a “C” score, the worst grade a restaurant can receive in the New York City system, although the Chick-fil-A at 37th Street and Sixth Avenue was listed as “grade pending,” WABC in New York reported.
“There were six violations on the last health inspection, so we decided to voluntarily close the restaurant so that the team could focus solely on those issues—primarily the presence of fruit flies,” spokeswoman Amanda Hannah told CNBC. In its statement on Monday, Chick-fil-A said it was working toward fixing the issues at its midtown restaurant.
“Closing the restaurant voluntarily has allowed us the time to make facility and procedural changes that will better meet the needs of serving our guests while operating in a very busy urban environment,” the statement read. “These changes have included retraining the leadership team and employees, fruit fly mitigation and thorough cleanings of the restaurant, independent inspections by an outside consultant and equipment and facilities upgrades.”
Chick-fil-A, known for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, opened its first standalone New York City location in October, but New York University has had a location in its food court for more than a decade.
Venessa Wong of BuzzFeed listed all six of the New York franchises’ violations:
These were the six violations from the city’s latest inspection conducted on Dec. 24. Additional details on each violation were not immediately available from the health department.
1. “Cold food item held above 41º F.”
2. “Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within two hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within four additional hours.”
3. “Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.”
4. “Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.”
5. “Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.”
6. “Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.”
Stephanie Strom of The New York Times explained how company officials want to use “an abundance of caution” given the recent troubles faced by fellow chain, Chipotle:
In a statement on the New York City store’s website, the company said it was making upgrades to the facilities and equipment and that it had hired an independent consultant to evaluate the changes.
The health department conducts inspections of restaurants in the city and awards letter “grades” based on the findings.
Under the inspection system, every restaurant has two chances to earn an “A” grade. If a restaurant fails to get an A on initial inspection, it is subject to a second inspection soon after the first one. The health department official said Chick-fil-A would have had to post a C grade or a sign saying “grade pending” after its second inspection, held on Dec. 24.
He said that the city closes restaurants only when it finds a public health hazard that cannot be corrected at the time of inspection, something like having no working refrigerators.
Another popular restaurant chain, Chipotle Mexican Grill, is struggling to overcome a food safety scare after more than 50 people who ate in its restaurants in nine states were found to be infected with strains of an E. coli bacteria.
Separately, more than 100 people who ate in a Chipotle restaurant in Boston were infected with a norovirus.
Although Chick-fil-A posted a note saying it would reopen on Monday, Ms. Kurlander said the company had changed its mind out of an abundance of caution.
