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.
That’s what they get for not getting a grease interceptor and for violating health codes.
No wonder we got sick last time we ate there
In response to the 2 comments, maybe it’s better that the owner of LHS closed. Now he doesn’t have to deal with the new minimum wage requirement which would have increased his operating cost. I don’t believe that the code that requires a grease interceptor for a food establishment says that that “tenant” is responsible for the cost, I could be wrong, but the grease interceptor is required per code. Maybe the property owner should have paid half of the cost, after all, it’s his property and it would stay with the property if LJS would have closed at a later date. So now, what do we have? No LJS, a small group of people who had to find another place to work, a building owner without a tenant and a building that needs upgrading due to its age and will need a grease interceptor if a food establishment elects to rent it, and if someone does move in, the remodel will require code update requirements. So Janelle, who really looses, the LJS owner, the employees who had to find another job or the property owner? I hope the owner of LJS finds another location. And John, I’ve eaten there many times and never had a bad meal. Always friendly service too.