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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Official Bikini Inspector 11/6/09   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, November 6, 2009 Violations close Grab-n-Go espresso stand By Debra Smith Herald Writer EVERETT — An espresso stand chain that made national news when its bikini baristas were accused of prostitution is in trouble again — this time with the Snohomish Health District. The Grab-n-Go Espresso Stand at Murphy’s Corner just outside Everett voluntarily shut down late Wednesday after Health District inspectors found seven health code violations, three of them considered critical. The three critical violations all focused on employees not having enough hot water to wash their hands, said Randall Durant, a senior environmental health specialist. This inspection was triggered by a complaint, not the baristas’ attire, he said. The Health District follows the state food code, and that law does not address how much employees must wear to work. Inspectors are concerned with the prevention of food-borne illness, he said. “A stand is a stand,” Durant said. “We treat them all the same.” The Grab-n-Go can reopen once the owner fixes the problems and the Health District inspects it again, he said. That could be as soon as today. Grab-n-Go owner Bill Wheeler denied that there have been health code violations. He said he shut down the coffee stand at Murphy’s Corner as part of planned remodel that had been in the works for months. He said the stand would be open for business this morning. This isn’t the first health code violation for Grab-n-Go, which has half a dozen stands around Snohomish County. The stand at Murphy’s Corner received two other critical violations July 23 when baristas couldn’t produce valid food worker cards. And the company did not provide towels for employees to dry their hands, according to inspection reports. Grab-n-Go stands have violated critical health codes a total of 18 times this year. In comparison, Java Juggs, a bikini barista chain with three stands, had no critical health code violations in the past year, according to records. Cowgirls Espresso, another county bikini espresso chain, had six. Coffee stands are typically inspected annually by the Health District, although a complaint can trigger an inspection, Durant said. They’re generally inspected less frequently than other types of restaurants because their limited menus make them a lower risk, he said. Grab-n-Go nabbed the attention of local and national media after two baristas who worked at a different Grab-n-Go stand on Highway 99 were charged in September with indecent exposure. Five other baristas were accused of engaging in prostitution at an Everett Grab-n-Go bikini stand on Broadway following a two-month undercover police investigation. Reporter Noah Haglund contributed to this story. Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out Picking on the stands is cheap news with no effort. It was brought up the comments down a bit, the reason this has made news is because Debra Smith does indeed have a grudge against these stands and ethics are not a concern to her or the Herald. The reason this made new is because she is trying to make it an issue, this article clearly shows how biased she is. In comparison, Java Juggs, a bikini barista chain with three stands, had no critical health code violations in the past year, according to records. Cowgirls Espresso, another county bikini espresso chain, had six. This quote says it all if bringing health issues to the attention of the public was really a concern of the Herald the violations at Cowgirls would have received it's own article but it did not. There are many violations EVERYDAY in food service, many businesses are cited or shut down, rarely any of them get articles printed. So one must ask why? If unsanitary food service is a concern shouldn't the Herald run a separate story for each case? If they only run stories on a case by case basis why would they do that? When you pick and choose the news you want to create it shows not only the lack of effort but the lack of regard a paper has for it's standards and it's readers. Much of the public doesn't have any clue about the places they eat, major restaurant chains DO NOT have to show food permits for every employee only that they "have" them on file. Many inspectors will not actually cite businesses if the on duty manager attempts to correct any problem that is discovered during inspection. Health inspections take little less then 30min even in large businesses, all they look for is what you are supposed to be doing, you are on the HONOR SYSTEM. If you doubt what I say, ask a close friend or family member in the food service industry, especially a teenager, if you ask a health inspector where you should be eating the answer they most give is "your house, you at least know what happens there". Mark Satarel | Nov 7, 2009 10:47 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Zif Nab needs to switch to decaf Geez, Zif - you sound like a barista-stalking groupie for crying out loud! I'm thinking you should try getting a life and - and a home coffee maker. Frankie the Fly | Nov 8, 2009 4:33 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal complaints Wow ... I'm looking at the health district site and WOW! These people send the health inspectors out to these stands 4 to 5 times per year! Most are 0 critical findings too! I think we should have some questions when a complaint is filed. 1. have you ever been TO the establishment or are you just driving by? 2. Do you have a personal issue with the establishment? 3. If there are no findings you will need to pay the cost of the inspection. So we will have our health inspectors constantly at bikini stands. oh YEAAA. Makes me feel REALLY safe knowing all the problem areas are getting ignored! Again, miss smith, why is this NOT IN THAT FLIPPING ARTICLE!! Zif Nab | Nov 6, 2009 10:16 am | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Answer The reports have been extremely unfair making them sound like they are very bad, dirty, etc. The reality is they have the same health code violations that Starbucks, Tully's,... have had. They compared this stand with other bikini stands in the area but not other coffee stands. It seems that this reporter is very biased. Her reports on this issue are the same time and time again. Report that this stand had an issue and closed... fine. I would even be OK with saying it was closed by the health department. But compare it to other businesses in the area not just other bikini coffee stands. Be fair, for once. How many coffee stands have been closed in the last year? How many other businesses has the health dept closed? Then I looked at the Snohomish County Health site and saw the sheer number of reports, most coming back with 0 violations. The people calling in never visit the stands in question so they have no reason to call the health department. Our tax money at work...... Zif Nab | Nov 6, 2009 3:59 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Question Why are you attacking the reporter? If Grab and Go coffee stands would follow the laws and regulations, there would be no reporting on it. put the blame where is belongs... They had violations that they had to shut down with. They are putting themselves out their with their actions.... again follow the rules and everyone is happy. They just can't seem to get that concept... DK M | Nov 6, 2009 2:25 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal corrected After reading the story again I stand corrected. She did say 7 total and 3 critical. Sorry about that. However I still think this should list facts like: Almost every coffee stand in this county has had these same critical issues listed in the past year. This story makes it sound like it's a bikini stand issue and that is just not true. They all have this issue. It's extremely difficult to get 2 sinks into any corner stand. If you close this one for that then you need to close them all... and report it! Zif Nab | Nov 6, 2009 2:22 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Personal vendetta of a "cub" reporter? At first, I shrugged off the comments of those who complained about The Herald reporter(s) covering and contributing to these bikini espresso news stories. Now, I'm beginning to connect the dots and see a distinct pattern here. If the newspaper staff monitors the internet postings, would it be out of sorts to suggest mixing up the daily and weekly assignments? I'm beginning to wonder if Ms. Smith is an intern or freshman reporter - who happens to also inject each story with less than objective statements. What it all boils down to is that someone (senior) amongst The Herald news staff needs to look into this. Otherwise, it's just sloppy, biased, and irresponsible reporting. Douglas Stevens | Nov 6, 2009 1:44 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal RE: Hmmm ... Ms Smith got the facts wrong... figures The story states that the stand was closed after receiving seven violations, three of them critical violations related to hand washing. The story also includes information about inspections and health code violations at similar coffee stands. Elaine Helm New Media Editor The Herald | HeraldNet.com Elaine Helm | Nov 6, 2009 1:06 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Excessive Inspections? Having a coffee stand checked 5 times a year does seem excessive especially considering that the restaurants and coffee stands at the biggest employer in Everett only get checked once every 6 months, despite them finding 1 or 2 Critical Faults and they serve hot and cold food to thousands of people on a daily basis. (Sourse Snohomish Health District website). Or is it that the Coffee Stands are easy to pick on, are the 'topic of the day' and make BIG NEWS for small journalists ... With so many Health Inspectors, Police, Prosecutors and journalists forming a line to 'check compliance' I'm surprised anyone gets served with coffee at all!! Pete Eaton | Nov 6, 2009 11:43 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Hmmm ... Ms Smith got the facts wrong... figures Upon further review the stand got 3 critical (See Snohomish County Web Site). Most of these are the same issues you will get from any stand sitting on the corner. Bathroom needs to be within so many feet of stand. Bathroom needs running water. Warm water needs to be in both sinks. So now we start complaining about other very small stands. As you state they need to comply with the law! That will essentially run them out of business. Gran-N-Go can afford to upgrade their stands can the other small stands? No I do not visit Grab-N-Go. They are way to impersonal for me. I do however have several stands I do frequent. Some bikini some not, all with hot women working... Zif Nab | Nov 6, 2009 11:42 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) This inspection was warranted by the sound of it. He voluntarily closed, They would have closed him if he didn't volunteer. He can't open until they re-inspect and give him approval to open. So this was not a waste of money. Do you buy coffee from this stand? If you do, then you certainly would want these girls washing there hands.. Bill Wheeler should have just said, yes they brought some violations to my attention and we will fix them. But no...... he denied that there were any violations and he was closed for remodeling???? What did he remodel? DK M | Nov 6, 2009 11:08 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal My problem I have issues with people complaining about these stands. There are other places (Starbucks, Tullys, and most corner stands) with the same issues, some worse. This story makes it sound like it's a problem with bikini stands only and it's not. These are the same issues you will have with EVERY corner stand, bikini or not. Now I find out that the health inspectors are spending a ton of time at these places for no good reason. At what point does it become harassment? 1 stand was visited 5 times in less than a year with noting to show for it. WE PAID FOR THAT! Not only that but if it becomes harassment then they can sue the city. We pay for that too. Zif Nab | Nov 6, 2009 10:38 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) Hey Zif, why such anger? If this coffee stand was up to the standards, same with any other coffee then they don't have to worry about being shut down. It is a health issue when people are not washing there hands. With the New flu going around and these girls are not washing their hands, that's a problem, Whether its a coffee stand or a hamburger joint... Follow the rules and the law. Grab and go has a problem doing either of these. DK M | Nov 6, 2009 10:29 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Real reporting Starbucks #3303 11/2008 2 Critical ... 10 2009 1 Critical #347 10/2009 1 Critical #Hwy 99 Everett 05/2009 2 critical 1 for not washing hands! Almost every Starbucks has at least 1 listing for food handler cards. TULLYS: #01012 8/2008 2 critical 1 not enough hot water 8/2009 1 critical #01027 4 critical #01100 2 critical Zippies 3 critical Broadway coffee 1 critical hot water issues. QUIZNO'S 3 violations in last year! I could go on and on. EDITOR, Why do you allow this type of reporting? Are you attempting to get the people outraged over nothing? Zif Nab | Nov 6, 2009 9:53 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Bill Wheeler and Health Department Every time the man opens his mouth he lies. So now the health department is making up the violations? He said there were none. Come on Bill give it up. Lies lies lies lies.... do you really think you have any creditability?? The only person you are fooling is yourself with all the lies you tell. DK M | Nov 6, 2009 9:52 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Another Debra Smith exclusive! Really? No mention of ANY non-bikini stands? This story comes across as "Only Bikini stands have health code violations". It is apparent that she has NEVER been to any of the other stands around here. Oh, and I love the 'this was by complaint not because they wear bikini's'. Let me be the first to say BULL! I expect the right wing wackos have been calling the health department about ALL of these stands. Why dont all the other counties have issues with them? Is Snohomish that messed up? Do we really have nothing better to do than worry about this? King, Pierce, Skagit? They have stands too and nothing in the news about them. What a bloomin mess we create for ourselves. Zif Nab | Nov 6, 2009 9:28 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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