Two small eateries were closed this week by the city.
Simit & Smith, the new Turkish baked goods and coffee shop, was closed on Wednesday by the Department of Health for “operating without a permit.”
Primo Pizza on 84th just East of Columbus was closed by the health department for health violations on Monday. Here are the violations that were cited:
Sanitary Violations
1) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
2) Sewage disposal system improper or unapproved.
3) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
4) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
5) Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.
6) Toilet facility not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door.
7) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
That’s upsetting news about Primo Pizza. Normally great pizza and I would have thought they took good care of the shop…
Agh, these are both solid joints (at least, I thought so). Hopefully both will shape up and return soon.
Sorry to hear about Simit & Smith. Haven’t tried it yet; but it looked way better than the bagel shop on 72nd that was recently closed by the Board of Health.
Seriously though, this is New York. You have to have a permit for everything short of breathing. Give Bloomberg time; he’s working on that one.
I wanted to update you and your readers about our closure at Simit + Smith. It was a matter of paperwork not being in the right place at the right time, and the closure was in no way a reflection on the cleanliness or quality of our cafe. In fact, we were back open within 48 hours and have since been awarded an “A” grade by the Department of Health. I hope you’ll all stop by again soon, we have exciting new menu items being introduced regularly!
Thank you,
Rachael W.
VP Marketing & Sales for Simit and Smith