Health Department Temporarily Closes Beygl
If you gasped while walking by Beygl (291 5th Avenue between 1st and 2nd Streets) over the last few days to find it closed, rest assured that it’s not for good.
On September 29, the NYC Department of Health and Hygiene temporarily closed the restaurant.
This bagel place has been well-loved by many neighbors since its opening in 2012. We’ve had a series of readers emailing us with their concern. “Say it ain’t so!” wrote neighbor Liz O’Connor, who referred to it as her “beloved Beygl.”
We reached out to owner Robert Massa via email. He wrote us back, explaining that “the health department closed us due to 3 out of 4 refrigerators not cooling at the temperature the needed. Our refrigerator[s] were between 47-50 degrees and they need to be below 41 degrees.” Massa also explained that the inspector required that all food in those fridges be discarded.
“I explained to the inspector that we have been working in and out of these refrigerators all morning and they have not been given enough time to reach 41 degrees,” continued Massa. “We have our refrigeration repair man here to do any repairs and inspections on our units. I will need to present these receipts to the health department and receive another inspection to determine everything is in working order to reopen. I’m hoping to be open by this weekend.”
We also reached out to the NYC Department of Health and Hygiene for more details via email. Carolina Rodriguez, a press representative, responded with the following: “The restaurant was closed for insufficient refrigeration, 4 of their 5 refrigerators were not working, therefore the food was out of temperature. They also had fruit flies. Once they correct the problems they can request a reopening inspection and if they pass they can reopen.”
The owners of Beygl also posted a note outside. The note says they “are DISPUTING THESE CLAIMS and will reopen as soon as possible. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.”
We’ll keep you posted if we receive information from the DOH, but keep your eyes peeled for the doors of Beygl to be back open soon.