One day after a grand re-opening that featured A-list guests like Warren Buffet, Spike Lee, Lance Bass and Russell Simmons, Jay-Z's 40/40 Club was shut down by New York's Health Department Thursday (January 19).
Among the violations seen by health inspectors according to the New York Post, included a worker mixing salsa with his bare hands. Five pounds of cooked mashed potatoes left out at a temperature of 89F, while 10 pounds of cooked rice and 50 turkey burgers were kept at 67F. All the hot foods should be at least 140F.
In addition to those violations, the refrigerator was at a rancid 60F instead of 41F, putting at jeopardy the safety of 50 pounds of raw chicken wings, five pounds of raw shrimp and 100 turkey burgers.
“If you have a walk-in place with food like this, you put a hell of a lot of people at risk,” said a source. “A night of dinner and dancing should not include the risk of contracting food-borne illness.”
Club patrons already inside the establishment were allowed to stay, but new customers were turned away.
Although the problems were corrected and the club was allowed to open again for business on Friday, there could be big trouble looming for the establishment.
The club was given 69 violation points. Only 28 violations points are needed for a restaurant to be given the worst possible "C" grade. Restaurants with a "C" grade are forced to post a "C" in their storefront windows which is horrible for business.
"It's killing us," a host at Reme Restaurant told the New York Daily News of the dreaded "C" grade. "People see the C and they walk away."
During an inspection of Hov's 40/40 club in February 2011, it "racked up 39 violation points for problems including improperly handled food and unsanitary conditions."
It's not a good sign for a club that just underwent $10 million dollars in renovations. It will be adjudicated at a hearing next month.
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