Photos by Stacie Joy
The great Downtown Bakery is temporarily closed on First Avenue between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.
A DOH notice dated Tuesday states that the quick-serve Mexican restaurant was "operating without a permit."
A follow-up handwritten note states they "will resume working as soon as we resolve this issue."
A neighbor noted, "City government just wants their money and to punish small businesses."
Come back soon!
Lame!
ReplyDeleteUgh! I hope they reopen soon!
ReplyDeleteI was talking with another local small restaurant owner and they have been put through the bureaucratic wringer since the pandemic. They, too, had issues with their permit which came down to administrative failures on the part of the city, but the business owner was forced to pay exorbitant fines and administrative fees.
They make the simplest, most amazing food. We are weekly patrons and look forward to seeing them again soon.
ReplyDeleteDamn! Too bad. This sucks. They served the best tamales I ever had.
ReplyDeleteCity government just wants everyone to comply by the rules.
ReplyDelete*This* they can close, but not the illegal head shops??? WTF???
ReplyDeleteWhere are the neighborhood's elected officials? Are they a part of this plot to target small business owners?
ReplyDeleteSuch a great place. I hope they are able to reopen soon!
ReplyDeleteNot a single person commenting has any idea why they were forced to temporarily close. Let's hold off on the indignation until someone with anything remotely close to resembling facts brings it to the equation.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty clear on the OFFICIAL slapped on the door notice...
DeleteI can't wait for them to come back - hope they take care of the below first, but fast cuz their food is sooo good!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like an inspection on 2/23 = 22 violation points. The first three, in red on the website, indicate sanitary violations and "are considered the most critical. Sanitary violations are issued when the safety of the food being prepared and served is threatened."
1) Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
2) Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
3) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
4) Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
5) Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
I recently left the food service industry in December. I've seen it all. What I can say is be prepared. I worked at quite a few restaurants where the health department randomly appears and starts to inspect your kitchen. One place in particular, very well known actually, was forced to shut down for almost three weeks for food not being stored at the proper temperature in addition to a mice that popped out of a little hole near the exit door. The principal owners were forced to pay over 15k in fines and updated repairs, and lost out on three weeks of revenue. What a nightmare. I hope this place opens up again. Not certain how much it will take, but these things happen. It usually is not a reflection of the hygiene or maintenance of a kitchen. Some of these city workers will search for anything in adding to their list of grievances. Some are out for blood. Some are really chill and will give you time to rectify everything before their next visit. Let's hope this works out in their favor. Such a cool spot for low key Mexican cuisine.
ReplyDeleteThank you February 24, 2023 at 3:24 PM, for the electronic footwork. Hope they get this sorted out for their business’s survival, and our future health when we order from there.
ReplyDeleteSpot on comments @5:25
ReplyDeleteIndeed inspections for bars and restaurants can be onerous and expensive. I’ve actually been witness to a few rather well known spots in the hood being shut down and my being asked to leave. The so called violations seem to be a real money grab for the city. I wouldn’t be surprised if the inspectors were on some sort of unofficial quota system.
As for Downtown Bakery… they are the standard for breakfast burritos. Hope it’s resolved quickly.
The City has done everything to help the big restaurants owned by wealthy groups and LLCs - allowing street shacks (free space), ignoring rats from shacks and pausing health inspections.
ReplyDeleteThen the City starts to administer - but focuses on the small remaining mom and pop places.
In the meantime, the big places still have their shacks, raking in the money....
i lived on 4th street around the corner for 25 years, Downtown Bakery was a go to weekly. If they are struggling to keep the place going, lacking updating or health violations, I would have helped clean. I love that place that much. Fingers crossed they can work it out.
ReplyDeleteHas there been any update on this? I'm getting really worried as time passes.
ReplyDeleteAny updates?
ReplyDelete