Morning routines for a lot of on Manhattan’s Higher West Facet have been thrown into chaos after a beloved bagel store unexpectedly closed for good — regardless of having lengthy traces extending out the entrance door each day.
After greater than three a long time in enterprise, locals have been shocked and dissatisfied to seek out Absolute Bagels on Broadway close to West 108th Avenue had been shut down by the town’s Heath Division following a failed inspection.
“This place is an institution. It’s great in the neighborhood,” stated David Spector. “Lines were crazy sometimes, they go to that corner around the corner.”
However what wasn’t nice was how the store scored throughout a well being inspection Wednesday. Well being inspectors referred to as the bagel cease a public well being hazard, and listed a number of the many violations discovered inside — a few of which might make even probably the most fervent bagel fan not wish to eat there.
Among the many violations discovered have been rat droppings within the meals prep, storage and repair areas; sugar packets gnawed by rats; lifeless rodents discovered on glue traps; dwell roaches; and smoked salmon contaminated by condensate wastewater dripping onto meals within the show case.
There have been greater than half a dozen violations in all. In accordance with the Well being Division’s web site, the store accrued 67 factors throughout the Dec. 11 inspection. For reference, something greater than 28 factors earns a C letter grade from the division.
It wasn’t even the primary time Absolute Bagels had been shut down.
The Well being Division stated the store had a historical past of noncompliance. It was pressured to shut in 2013 and 2017 for vermin infestation and unsanitary circumstances. The store reopened after the earlier violations have been corrected, however the Well being Division stated Friday it had not been contacted by the proprietor to start the reopening course of.
A staple for the reason that Nineties with 1000’s of rave evaluations, workers could possibly be seen inside on Friday gutting the store, dumping every little thing from cooking tools to chairs in a dumpster outdoors.
“Literally people are walking up to it, knock on the door, saying what the heck is going on. They’re wondering why this place isn’t here,” stated Lorenzo Fanning.
The proprietor of Absolute Bagels didn’t want to converse to NBC New York.
