NYC Chick-fil-A reopens after health violations

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - The only New York City Chick-fil-A location reopened Tuesday, six days after the company voluntarily closed the location due to a poor health inspection.

The New York City Health Department found six violations, 5 deemed critical, that would give the restaurant a "C" grade.  A "Grade Pending" sign was visible on a window over the weekend.

The restaurant voluntarily closed on December 30, 2015 after inspectors found fruit flies, food that was not kept at proper temperatures, improper storage of containers and unsanitized rags.

The shutdown came after the restaurant was found to have even more problems during a Christmas eve re-inspection due to a poor score on December 15, 2015.

It was supposed to reopen on Monday but In a release on the corporate website Chick-fil-A stated:  "We do have a little more work to complete so we have made the decision to remain closed until we feel confident we are exceeding standards in all areas."

The company says it has been retraining the leadership team and employees along with having  independent inspections from an outside consultant.

It says it wants to "ensure the cleanest and safest environment going forward."

The restaurant, at 37th St. and 6th Ave., opened on October 3rd to great fanfare.  Daily lines have stretched outside of the building.

The three-story, 5,000-square-foot restaurant was billed as the largest of the chain's locations in the country.

The company said it was independently owned and operated by Oscar Fittipaldi.

Here is a complete list of the violations from the health department website:

Violation points: 59
Sanitary Violations
1) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
2) Food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal product temperature is reduced from 140º F to 70º F or less within 2 hours, and from 70º F to 41º F or less within 4 additional hours.
3) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
4) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5) Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
6) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.