Village Inn closed by health department for violations
1/26/2018
The Village Inn in Sylvania.
The Village Inn in Sylvania’s food services operation license has been suspended effective 8 a.m. Friday for repeated violations and “blatant disregard” for food safety, according to the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
Health inspectors found 112 violations over the course of 15 inspections from April, 2017, through Tuesday. Of those, 38 were critical violations. Among those violations were lack of a required person in charge, incorrect food temperature and time controls, frequency of sanitizing utensils, and cleanliness of food-contact surfaces.
“At this time, the health department’s concerns regarding lack of food safety knowledge, no certified person in charge, the follow-through to correct repeat violations, and the disregard of both equipment and physical facility was discussed,” read a department report regarding a Jan. 17 hearing with owner Sara Tolkes.
The restaurant, at 4984 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd., Sylvania, will be closed through Feb. 24 unless a health department inspection deems it safe to reopen sooner.
Health department spokesman Shannon Lands said such a suspension is rare.
“We definitely try to work with the establishment to find a way for them to operate appropriately,” she said, citing education and other resources to help proprietors. The restaurant voluntarily closed last summer to work on getting into compliance, but the problems were not remedied, Ms. Lands said.
“We’re putting forth the effort on our end, but they weren't putting forth the effort on theirs,” she said.
Ms. Lands said the department has not forcibly closed a restaurant in at least five years, the length of time the department retains such records. Others have volunteered to close temporarily to address violations.
A call to the Village Inn was not immediately returned on Friday. An attempt to reach the owners was also unsuccessful.
Contact Lauren Lindstrom at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.