Oct 10, 2008 10:29 am US/Central
West Loop Bar Louie Shut Down For Rats
1,000 Rat Feces Found In Basement
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
A West Loop restaurant and bar remains remains closed Friday morning after being shut down by city health inspectors for a rat infestation and other health code violations. It marked the third time this year that a Bar Louie restaurant in the city has been shut down.
The Bar Louie at 741 W. Randolph St. was ordered closed Thursday after Department of Public Health inspectors found more than 1,000 rat feces in a basement storage area.
The restaurant was also cited for front and rear doors with gaps that allow access to rodents and insects; fruit flies in the kitchen; a poorly maintained outside garbage area with trash overflowing; no sanitizing solution in the automatic dishwashing machine and no hot water at sinks through the establishment, according to a release from the CDPH.
"We take food safety seriously, and these are the types of unacceptable violations that leave the door wide open for food-borne illness," Health Commissioner Terry Mason said in the release. "Bar Louie will not be allowed to reopen until it has taken corrective action and passed re-inspection."
Bar Louie officials will face an administrative hearing Nov. 6 and be fined more than $2,000, the release said.
Bar Louie has 11 locations in the area, six in the city, three of which have been shut down this year for health violations. The Hyde Park location was ordered closed Oct. 1 and the Taylor Street location was shut down on Aug. 28.
The action marked the 203rd time in 2008 that inspectors have closed a food establishment for violations of the Chicago Health Code.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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