Steel Trolley Diner closed for health violations
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LISBON -- Citing 27 repeat violations and a few new ones, the Columbiana County Board of Health voted to suspend the food license of the historical Steel Trolley Diner in Lisbon on Wednesday.
Environmental Director Lori Barnes said the health department has been working with the Steel Trolley Diner about their violations since April. She told the board they would inspect, things would improve and then they would receive complaints and return to find the same problems again.
Following the meeting, Ryan Hillman, an owner of the diner, called what happened unfortunate.
"We have been working diligently with them to meet their concerns and maintain the historical integrity," Hillman said.
During the meeting, Hillman asked to speak with the board behind closed doors. However, Board President Dr. Jack Amato said the board meeting is a public meeting and the board could only go into executive session for reasons such as personnel and his comments did not meet the requirement. Hillman then left the meeting.
After he departed and before the board voted, Barnes showed photos of some of the problems found in the diner on Wednesday morning. The photos included mouse droppings behind equipment, freezers which were overdue to be defrosted with open food inside them and an oven knob encrusted with grease. Additional issues were a hole in the floor, which the business was trying to conceal by covering it with a Christmas tree.
There also were general cleanliness issues shown in the photos. Barnes pointed to tile floors, walls and other places which were dusty or dirty and needed cleaned in a bathroom. She showed rips in at least one of the diner's booth seats, which would make it impossible to thoroughly clean.
Other photos showed a handle missing from a refrigerator and a door being held with a hook and eye closure. There were cooking utensils with wooden handles, which Barnes said are not permitted in food service, and a french fry cutting machine which had food residue on it and a handle which appeared to be covered in red duct tape. Cooking utensils were being kept in a drawer lined with tin foil, another thing which does not meet standards.
There was also a wooden shelf which appeared to be rotted and collapsing in the photo.
At least two spring-loaded mousetraps were found, which Barnes also said is not an allowable method for catching mice in a restaurant. One board member said at least there were no mice in the trap, but Barnes indicated there was other evidence in the photos of mice.
After looking at the photos, four members of the board with a fifth one absent considered whether to suspend or revoke the food license at the Steel Trolley Diner. By voting 4-0 to suspend it, the business will be allowed to work to bring the business back to health code compliance while the business remains closed. If the board had voted to revoke the license, it would not be allowed to reopen.
The diner also has a right to appeal the board's decision, but must request an appeal hearing within 15 days, according to Health Commissioner Wes Vins.
Following the meeting, Vins said it was unfortunate because staff members at the health department had been putting in a lot of time trying to work with the people at the Steel Trolley Diner to alleviate their health violations without taking this step.
The diner, which is usually open 24 hours a day, is currently closed. Barnes was taking the board orders down to the restaurant right after the meeting.
Hillman notes the authentic 1950s diner is one of the 500 remaining in operation from the 6,000 which were once made. Hillman said it has been located in Columbiana County for 64 years, since 1954.
One of Hillman's goals is maintaining the history of the diner both outside and inside.
"The Steel Trolley is a piece of history and we need to make sure it is around for future generations to enjoy," Hillman said. "Many of those things that were listed are not possible in order to keep the historical integrity."
For instance, Hillman said many of the fixtures cannot be changed and have the diner remain historically accurate.
djohnson@mojonews.com