Mount Prospect restaurant owner puzzled by closing

Inspectors closed Little America Restaurant in Mount Prospect for health reasons, but longtime owner Jim Revel said Saturday that he doesn't understand why.

Amy Poore, spokeswoman with the Cook County Health Department, said two cases of salmonella were linked to the restaurant at 299 W. Central Road. She said the department reported the information to the village of Mount Prospect, leading inspectors there to close the restaurant Thursday evening.

"We are in full cooperation with the health department," said Revel, who was told customers became sick on Sept. 10 after eating eggs at his restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Revel said he has not experienced a health-related issue in nearly three decades in operating the business. He said no customer ever informed him they were sick and he wonders why it took more than a month to take action.

"The whole thing is strange. I'm aggravated. This could be the kiss of death for my restaurant," he said.

Poole said the health department is in the preliminary stages of the investigation and could not say when the customers got sick or what they ate. She said the Illinois Department of Public Health labs conduced tests on the sick customers and confirmed the salmonella. "We know they were linked to that restaurant," she said.

Meanwhile, Revel does not know when he can reopen and is frustrated with the process and the lack of answers he is receiving.