Chick-fil-A’s high-profile restaurant in Manhattan closed temporarily last week after health officials cited the unit with five critical violations.
The Atlanta-based quick-service chain opened its first full-sized Chick-fil-A in New York City in October with a new “upstream ordering” system designed to simulate the drive-thru experience. The three-story restaurant in the city’s Fashion District was expected to be a high-volume location that would set the standard for urban growth for the 1,800-unit chain.
An inspection on Dec. 24, however, cited the restaurant with five critical violations: evidence of flies in the restaurant; inadequate cold food temperatures; food not cooled by an approved method to required temperatures; improper protection of food during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service; and wiping cloths not stored in sanitizing solution.
In addition, the restaurant was determined to be “not vermin proof,” with conditions conducive to attracting vermin or allowing them to exist.
The unit reopened at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. The company said the maintenance and facilities update was completed.
The decision to close the restaurant on Dec. 30 was voluntary and “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 company said.
The changes included retraining the leadership team and employees, as well as fruit fly mitigation, a thorough cleaning of the restaurant, independent inspection by an outside consultant, and unspecified equipment and facilities upgrades.
“All of this activity and the commitment of our team will ensure the cleanest and safest environment going forward — something we are committed to chainwide,” the company said.
Update: Jan. 5, 2016 This story has been updated with news that the unit reopened on Tuesday.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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