Nic & Norman’s Restaurant in Lexington Temporarily Closes

News Summary

Nic & Norman’s restaurant in Lexington, co-founded by stars of ‘The Walking Dead,’ faced closure due to health violations. A routine inspection revealed plumbing issues and food safety concerns, leading to a cease operation notice. After implementing necessary fixes and tossing noncompliant items, the restaurant successfully reopened the next day with an improved inspection score. This incident highlights the challenges of maintaining health standards in the competitive restaurant industry.

Lexington’s Nic & Norman’s Restaurant Temporarily Closes Due to Health Violations

In the heart of Lexington, there’s been quite an *unfortunate turn of events* for the popular Nic & Norman’s restaurant. Co-founded by stars of “The Walking Dead,” Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus, along with comic creator Robert Kirkman, this trendy eatery has certainly made waves since it opened its doors at 135 W. Main St. back in 2022. Unfortunately, it hit a snag recently that had patrons scratching their heads.

What Happened?

On December 9, 2022, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department conducted a routine inspection of the restaurant. What they uncovered led to a cease operation notice. The main culprits? A lack of hot water, an inoperable dishwasher, and a malfunctioning three-compartment sink that caused wastewater to back up. Yikes! Talk about a messy situation!

Inspection Details

The initial inspection didn’t score too well, coming in at a 78. Alongside the plumbing issues, there were additional violations discovered such as food being stored uncovered, improperly dated food, and employee items found perched above food prep surfaces. Safety is a big deal in the food industry, and these findings raised some serious red flags.

To get things back on track, all noncompliant food items were tossed immediately after the inspection. Relatively quick to act, Nic & Norman’s addressed the plumbing repairs swiftly, ensuring that everything was fixed properly before the restaurant could return to business.

Back in Business!

By December 10, 2022, the restaurant was back up and running after passing a re-inspection with a much improved score of 94. It’s heartening to see that they managed to bounce back so quickly! A spokesperson clarified that the plumbing issues were not isolated to just their restaurant but were part of a broader *building-wide problem* that arose due to some exterior concrete work impacting the main water line.

The Role of the Health Department

The red sign you may have noticed on the restaurant’s doors during the closure? That’s the health department’s way of preventing customer service to establishments that don’t meet safety standards. Before a restaurant can reopen, they have to rectify all violations identified during inspections and pass a follow-up check. Wanting to ensure all diners remain safe and sound, the Lexington health department inspects local food establishments at least every six months. If there are any complaints, they might pay a visit sooner!

Impact on Lexington’s Dining Scene

As of 2024, it seems Nic & Norman’s isn’t the only establishment facing issues. At least eight restaurants in the Lexington area have been temporarily shut down for code violations in recent times. It’s a tough world in the restaurant business, and maintaining top-notch hygiene can be a challenge for many.

By law, all establishments are required to display their inspection scores at the entrance. If you see a score in green, it means they’ve passed. However, a red score indicates a failure. So next time you’re out enjoying a meal, be sure to keep an eye out for those scores – it could mean the difference between a delightful dining experience and an unfortunate one!

Conclusion

Despite the recent hiccup, it seems that Nic & Norman’s is ready to continue serving up tasty meals to the Lexington community. Here’s hoping they keep everything running smoothly without any more plumbing dramas. After all, fans of “The Walking Dead” want their eats just as much as their thrills!

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Additional Resources

• WTVQ
• Wikipedia: Health inspection
• Kentucky.com
• Google Search: restaurant health violations
• WIS TV
• Google Scholar: restaurant health safety
• Post and Courier
• Encyclopedia Britannica: restaurant health safety
• WLTX
• Google News: restaurant health inspection alerts