Restaurant is fined for violations
State Orders Cleanup at Suzy Q's in Americus
By Brandy Nance
Monday, August 13, 2007
AMERICUS — Suzy Q’s in Americus has been fined $500 for violations of state food-service regulations, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday.
Administrative orders assessing the $500 civil penalties against the restaurant came after two inspections by representatives of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
In Thursday’s press release, the department said that Suzy Q’s was inspected on June 11 and June 26. The restaurant was fined after inspectors found live roaches in the kitchen after the two consecutive inspections, according to an administrative order and inspection reports.
During the June 11 inspection, two live baby cockroaches were seen on a shelf in the kitchen. Inspectors returned on June 26 and found three roaches on a kitchen shelf.
“It’s the two violations in a row that triggered this action,” said Mike Heideman of the state health department.
Susan Worcester, owner of Suzy Q’s, said she has been in the restaurant business for 19 years. She said the live roaches were found in a potato sack on the bottom shelf.
“What are you supposed to do when you get stuff delivered?” Worcester said. “Spray it? And it’s illegal for me to go buy canned bug spray and spray. In a restaurant you can’t do that ... you have to hire a professional.”
Worcester said on the second inspection she was told just to have the restaurant sprayed again.
“All of the sudden they want to charge me $500 for this,” she said.
Heideman said Suzy Q’s was not ordered to shut down.
“We do have the authority to do that under certain circumstances and this was not one of those,” he said.
Other violations were found during the two June inspections, according to the administrative order. The order stated that the restaurant failed to label ready-to-eat potentially hazardous foods with a “consume by” date, failed to provide hot water and failed to clean food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils to sight and touch.
Among some of the specific items in the June 11 inspection report: cooked liver and onions and pasta salad was not labeled and a roaster pan had drying chicken skin and fat in it. According to the report, general cleaning of the kitchen was needed, including clean-up of roach feces under the cabinets.
Worcester spoke to the things she was written up for. She said the hot water tank wasn’t working because the gas company shut off the gas. She was closed from March 14 to mid-May because of hip surgery. Worcester said she was charged for more than 400 units of gas with a bill for March and April of more than $12,000. Since then, Worcester said she put in an electric hot water tank within three days of the inspection.
Worcester said the water and electric bills went to nothing during the time of the restaurant’s closure, but the gas bill shot up. She said the heater wasn’t on during her absence.
“That’s a bunch of garbage,” she said. “Something has got to be done about it. But I’m not paying it.”
Heideman said follow-up inspections will be conducted to bring the restaurant into compliance with state standards.
“The important thing to us is that the public’s health is protected,” he said. “We always follow up with additional inspections to make sure the correction is made.”
Suzy Q’s has the right to appeal the civil penalty. On Friday, Worcester said she has 20 days to respond and it had been day 14. Worcester said the violations have been corrected.
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Sounds like a great place to take the family for a good meal, doesn't it.
I suspect there are more than a few restaurants in Emporia just like this one. That's one of the reasons my wife and I eat at home and eat out very infrequently.
August 14, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
siamesefred (anonymous) says...
Here's a great Web site for statewide restaurant inspections. Once you're there, click on "inspection search" on the left hand column.
http://www.ksfoodsafety.org/
The Ayan Cafe on East 12th was last inspected in September 2006. You have to know the name of the establishment, and I don't know the name of the one you're referring to on East 6th.
August 14, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
etown (anonymous) says...
Snake I'm sure you appreciate Golden Corral...that's probably a big night out on the town for you. I'm sure no one is telling you to appreciate their cultures, just as no one is telling them to appreicate your culture.
August 14, 2007 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
I can't for the life of me understand why this should become a referendum on the Somali people of Emporia. The article was about Suzy Q's that was fined for unsanitary conditions.
My comment had nothing to do with Somalis and I really don;t appreciate it being used as a springboard to turn this into some kind of race or culture referendum.
August 14, 2007 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
etown (anonymous) says...
Wow Snake, guess you don't like what others have to say. Keep giving your opinions, however, it just works a little better when it's actually related to the story at hand (i.e. nasty restaurants). Don't like what we say, don't read it.
August 14, 2007 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatasheep69 (anonymous) says...
I personally agree with many of snake's comments. I also have a problem with many of the Sammies' actions and attitudes in the town that I have called home my entire life. Many of the others' comments here lead me to believe that these persons have not actually had any actual contact with the Sammies. Yes, I too would be curious to know what the authorities would find in their restaurant.
August 14, 2007 at 7:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
etown (anonymous) says...
Just stirring the pot Snake, apparently it's working. I guess I missed "Sammie" in the title of this article. Sorry, my bad I thought the topic was about Scummy Q's. So, now we're talking about "Sammies"? Yeah, yeah we all know what a pain in the ass they are. Ok, next subject please.
August 15, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
munchkin91 (anonymous) says...
Don't forget there is another restraunt in Americus . It seems to do pretty well and the food is excellent too. Anyone ever heard of Breckinridge County Cafe? They have been there longer than Suzy Q's, and they are still going strong.
August 19, 2007 at 6:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spendit (anonymous) says...
I agree with snake too, I am sick of the sammies taking over the town and thinking everyone owes them something, especially with their attitude, poor driving habits, tb, etc, etc!
August 19, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )