Tag: longjohnsilvers

The Nevada Appeal has dug down to find out the reason Long John Silver's restaurant closed last month. Apparently the city wanted them to install a $30,000 grease interceptor, to stop grease from draining into the city sewer system, and the restaurant wanted the building's owner to pay for it. But the city's codes say tenants have to pay for those kinds of improvements, and the franchise owners refused to do it. Instead they just shuttered their doors. I guess that's one cost of doing business that they weren't willing to pay.

And that wasn't their first run-in with the city's health code, according to the article. Floor grout is one problem specifically mentioned, but I found the following health inspection report from last August:

Long John Silvers No. 5217, 1280 S. Carson St., 91.
-1 Food is stored in containers which are inadequately labeled or unlabeled, specifically prepared coleslaw.
-2 Fish was stored in the freezer without a cover.
-2 Ice not dispensed by employees using scoops, tongs or other approved utensils. Dispensing utensils must be stored on a clean surface or in the ice with the handle extending out of the ice.
-1 Non-food-contact surfaces are subject to splash or food debris, specifically the edges of the shelves under the counter, and are difficult to clean. The edge laminate is missing and porous wood is exposed.
-1 Non-food contact surfaces are not clean; specifically, the supports and wheels of the fryer have accumulated grease and debris.
-1 Floors are not clean; specifically, the floor under equipment has a build-up of dust and debris.
-1 Mop bucket with dirty mop water found in a food-preparation area.

The comments on the article are generally of the "good riddance" variety. So, I don't think Carson City is sad to see them go.

The Long John Silver's restaurant on South Carson Street has been there, I think, ever since I moved here in the mid 80s. The food was never that great, but sometimes you're in the mood for some greasy fish, you know? And hushpuppies. I could probably eat a dozen of those in one sitting. I wouldn't feel too great the next day, but it would be worth it.

I drove by this week to find the door locked, the restaurant empty, and the word "CLOSED" on the marquee.

No explanation that I could find was forthcoming for why the restaurant closed. I guess the popularity of Long John Silver is dropping, at least here in Carson City. A tiny farewell note was pasted in the drive-thru and on the front door. It reads:

This Long John Silver's has been a member of the community for a number of years.

We will miss our customers.
Thank you for your patronage.

We hope you will visit the Reno Long John Silver's when you are in town.

I'll always remember this as the place where you never quite got exactly what you ordered. We would get Long John Silver's to go, and sometimes if we were lucky we would have a few extra pieces of fish, or coleslaw when we asked for fries. On the unlucky occasions, we'd only have three dinners in the bag instead of the four we paid for. But the service was consistently inconsistent, one of those things that's charming at first but pisses you off after the tenth time it happens.

So see you later, Long John Silver's.