Great Wall Restaurant Closed for Third Time, Temporarily, for Health Code Violations

Following a public hearing on April 10 that determined that the establishment had failed to comply with health code requirements, The Board of Health department issued a notice to that all operations "shall immediately cease and desist."

This is the third time the restaurant has been closed due to violations, and will remain so through April 17, by which time all violations that were noted by town inspectors must be corrected.

The closure, read the letter, "will be followed by a 4-6 week period of numerous surprise inspections conducted by the Town of Northborough's Health Department."

Since Great Wall was closed in August of 2011, numerous issues have repeatedly come before the Board of Health, including staying open during a power outage, multiple violations of raw beef, chicken and other items stored improperly or left out and the food storage shed door open.

An inspection in January revealed a fourth offense of food left uncovered, a food worker working with an absorbent wrap on his finger and a fourth offense of employees not wairing hairnets or helmets. In Februrary, too, several offenses were noted: a fifth offense of uncovered food; raw products stored over read to eat foods, a container of meat on the floor of the walk-in; and another offense of employees not wearing hairnets.

ESI Qual International conducted an inspection in March that marked, among other violations, that Lysol wipes were stored at food level, pork sat in the back area near the back door prior to prep activities, a sixth offense of raw food uncovered, a sixth offense of employees not wearing hairnets and old labels on food containers.

Routine inspections were also conducted throughout March.

According to an article in The Daily Northborough, Shirley Lin attended the Board of Health meeting on Tuesday night, when the official vote took place to temporarily close the restaurant. Lin spoke for the family, and the Daily Northborough indicated Lin said, "they were having trouble hiring help that would follow health regulations." 

"We truly hope this establishment can succeed, but ultimately the board of health is charged with ensuring the public is protected," said Health Agent Jamie Terry.

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