By David Greene
A popular Morris Park restaurant was temporarily closed and the owner claims it is just another way for the city to increase revenue on the backs of small, family-owned businesses.
According to The Department of Health's website, the Golden Eagle Restaurant, at 975 Morris Park Avenue, was inspected on March 4, and received 33 points for faulty plumbing, evidence of live rats and discarded food not properly discarded. A restaurant needs a 27 to stay open.
However, Golden Eagle owner Pete Rahas, who has operated the popular restaurant for 25-years, fought back by placing his own statement next to the Department of Health notice announcing the closing on Thursday, March 25.
In his statement, Rahas charged, "The Mayor of this city is killing the small businesses, as well as the average working person with taxes, frivolous fines and revenue violations."
Rahas vowed in his letter, "I will not let the big guy break me."
In a telephone interview, Rahas claimed inspectors found, "a few minor things," such as a carton of milk not refrigerated, an oversized door and a dented can.
"They’re always going to find something," Rahas continued, adding that a restaurant is given 10-points if the owner is not at the location at the time of the inspection.
Rahas has decided to reach out to other Bronx eateries in hopes of forming an association. Golden Eagle claims to pay $10,000 a month to Con Edison, which recently announced a rate increase, and with real estate taxes and a water bill, the owner stated, "There killing small business."
Golden Eagle hoped to reopen this week.
One longtime customer, who declined to give her name, stated, "I think the Department of Health found a problem in the basement. I've been eating here for 15-years and never had a problem with it," and vowed to return.
On March 16, the Department of Health approved a measure that would require all restaurants to post a letter grade to summarize food-safety inspections at a location.
