Health violations briefly close Palatine eatery

A Palatine Culver's restaurant closed briefly Monday so several violations issued by the village health department could be addressed.

A routine inspection Sunday found critical issues like temperature violations of potentially hazardous foods, unhygienic worker practices and unlabeled chemical spray bottles, said Diane Gartner, field director of the Palatine Environmental Health Division.

Critical items can result in food-borne illness and require immediate attention, though no illnesses were reported.

The eatery at 1765 N. Rand Road stayed open Sunday and Monday morning because the violations didn't constitute immediate closure, in part because Culver's had other refrigerators and the parties agreed on an correction plan.

"We try to find options for the business to continue operating safely," said Gartner. "If action plans can be put in place and the business can remain open, that's the direction we'll go."

But health inspectors returned the next day to find items that still needed to be addressed, prompting owner Kevin Weasler to close for about three hours.

Weasler said he immediately called in a repairman. But a part that had to be ordered didn't arrive until Monday. He called the whole incident "one bad day in five or six years."

"We just went over the top to do the right thing," he added.

Gartner said village inspectors have returned since Culver's reopened and will continue to follow up within a few weeks to make sure food safety training and other plans are being implemented.

"As of (Tuesday), I would have eaten there myself," said Gartner. "They were very cooperative and we're satisfied with action they've taken."

Palatine restaurants are rated on a scale of 100 and scores are averages of prior inspections. Culver's received a 69 Sunday, which was averaged in with the restaurant's previous score of 90 for a current score of 80. Village ordinance says permits can be suspended for scores under 70.

Weasler owns two other Culver's in the Northwest suburbs and noted that he's always otherwise received good scores for health and hygiene. His businesses have also won numerous community service awards.