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Friday, March 29, 2024

Iconic Fraunces Tavern Closed  by Food Safety Inspectors 

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Fraunces Tavern, the historic restaurant in lower Manhattan, closed temporarily after health inspectors found several ‘critical’ safety violations, including contaminated food, evidence of rats, mice and filth flies and unsuitable sewage disposal. Owner Eddie Travers, attributes his restaurant’s problems to the wet weather and heavy precipitation. It has been a wet spring, with 40% more precipitation through April than last year, as confirmed by the National Weather Service. 

As reported by Crain’s NY, Travers conceded that he often has to cope with water pooling in the basement following weeks of heavy rain. An inspector with the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene saw the water last week and following a thorough investigation of the premises, ordered the closure. “It was bad luck,” Travers said. “In the past, inspectors have visited during dry periods.”

Food safety inspectors score eateries based on how many violations they find. Restaurants with 13 or fewer points are graded “A”. Restaurants with up to 27 points get a “B”.  Over 28 points is a “C”, and etc. In last weeks inspection, Fraunces Tavern got 85 points. In November, at its previous inspection, however, the restaurant got 10 points, or an “A.”

Travers said the food-safety violations cited aren’t particularly uncommon considering the size of the establishment, which covers 13,000 square feet. “The violations may look terrible, but if they went through your apartment, they’d find things,” he said. Travers said he feels the city is unfairly targeting older establishments. “They see this only in black and white and don’t account for the fact this building is more than 300 years old,” he said.

Travers said he is working around the clock to resolve the violations and hopes the restaurant will be allowed to reopen in time for the Friday night dinner rush. He declined to disclose the amount he has lost in revenue, since closing the restaurant on Tuesday June 6th. Fraunces Tavern has occupied the corner of Pearl and Broad streets since 1762. It is a popular destination for Wall Street professionals and tourists who come to visit the spot where George Washington and Alexander Hamilton enjoyed mugs of ale. The building and block are registered as National Historic Places.

By: Helen Zaboulani

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