By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

The West Grove Diner received an “Emergency Response” inspection by the Chester County Health Department last week, after it received two complaints that the restaurant had been neglecting Pa. Gov. Wolf’s order – issued on March 19 -- that limits all Pennsylvania restaurants remain to open for take-out and delivery, in the wake of COVID-19.

The first complaint, which was received by the department by phone on April 7 and documented in the Pennsylvania Food Safety Reporting System led to the Health Department informing the diner’s owner not to permit customers to dine in, as well as provided information about penalties that could come as a result of the violation.

Following a second phone complaint on April 13, the Health Department, accompanied by an officer with the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department, conducted an on-site inspection, which revealed that customers were observed dining in at tables and at the counter, and that the facility’s front windows were covered with brown paper.

All customers at the diner were requested to vacate the premises, and its owner was informed that all dine-in service must cease immediately and until further notice.

As a result of this violation, the diner was issued a non-traffic citation that will be filed in local District Court, and a warning that if the governor’s no-dine-in order is not observed, that the diner will be issued a cease and desist order that will result in the suspension of its retail food license.

Subsequently, a suspension of the diner’s retail food license will require the facility to cease all food operations, and that the Health Department will retain the diner’s retail food facility license until further notice.

The food facility may continue to offer take-out, curbside pick-up or delivery in accordance with COVID-19 food facility guidelines. As of April 16, the brown paper was still affixed to the diner’s windows, and there were signs on the front door, observing that the diner was now open to take-out and delivery only.

A phone call from the Chester County Press to the restaurant’s management was not returned.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].