Reza’s Restaurant in Edgewater was shut down twice in the same week after inspectors found several code violations, city officials said.
The Department of Buildings cited and shut down the restaurant, at 5255 N. Clark St., after “numerous dangerous and hazardous violations” were discovered during an inspection July 18, Department of Buildings spokesman Michael Puccinelli said Monday.
Included among dozens of citations and violations posted to an online buildings department database — which also lists the restaurant’s address as 1477-81 W. Berwyn Ave. — are stress fractures of exterior walls and washed out mortar joints. The records indicate “all fire extinguishers ... [have] outdated tags.” Inspectors reported finding “a black organic mold like substance in the north basement ceiling food prep area.” There are also numerous electrical and plumbing violations listed.
Despite the Closure Order, the restaurant reopened without authorization on July 20 and was shut down once again, Puccinelli said.
Reza’s will “remain closed until such time as all dangerous and hazardous conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of the public and workers are corrected and verified by an inspection from the Department of Buildings,” according to Puccinelli.
Reza’s Restaurant did not respond to a request for comment.
However, the eatery posted a sign in a door below the closure notice from the city saying its dining room “is temporarily closed for repairs.” The sign encourages customers to go to its Evanston or Oak Brook locations.
“Thank you for your continued support,” the notice said.
