11/9/2009 4:11:00 PM City shutters Jack Yee Restaurant
Jack Yee Restaurant, at 1016 Mainstreet, had its license revoked Nov. 4 by the Hopkins City Council. PHOTO: Taylor Kollitz
By Taylor Kollitz
Never before does Hopkins city staff remember the City Council revoking a food establishment license.
That is, until Jack Yee Restaurant, 1016 Mainstreet, violated 17 health codes, seven of which were critical, and still remained open for business, according to city officials.
The council voted unanimously to revoke the Chinese restaurant's license at its Nov. 4 meeting, said Jim Genellie, assistant city manager.
The number and severity of the violations, as well as remaining open despite orders to close, caused the council to get involved.
"A notice was given [to the owner] prior to the hearing to discuss revoking the license," Genellie said. "The owner did not appear at the meeting."
Sam Cheung Lau, the owner of Jack Yee Restaurant, was unable to be reached for comment.
Hopkins' Environmental Health Specialist Larry Myers inspected the restaurant on Aug. 17.
After numerous violations were noted, Jack Yee was ordered to close until the violations were corrected.
Despite an "Unlawful To Do Business" posting in the window, Jack Yee remained open for business, according to city staff.
Lau did not establish a plan to correct the violations and didn't contact the city, according to a letter from Genellie.
Critical violations included the lack of a hand washing sink or evidence of proper hand washing, according to Myers' report.
Myers also observed the improper storage of raw meat in a walk-in cooler, a dirty slicer and that the restaurant didn't have a method to properly sanitize equipment.
Other violations included litter in the basement, unsafe light fixtures in food preparation areas and an allover dirty establishment, according to the report.
The letter from Genellie stated, "A number of these items were simply maintenance items and would not have been expensive to address."
Such conditions pose many health concerns, Myers said.
"There is a possibility of food-born illnesses," he said. "That's why we have a Minnesota health code."
Since the council issues licenses, it has the ability to suspend or revoke them as well, Genellie said.
There is a possibility for Lau to reopen his restaurant in the future, if he meets the criteria.
"He would have to seek a new food establishment license, comply with Minnesota food code and correct all violations," Genellie said.
The number of health violations as severe as those in Jack Yee Restaurant are rare, Genellie said.
The decision to revoke the license was not taken lightly by the city.
"In this case, he left us with no choice," he said.
