City Closes WaHi Eatery Owned By Community Board Leader

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — An empanadas restaurant on West 181st Street owned by Community Board 12's chair was shut down by health inspectors last week who found mice and other sanitary violations at the eatery, records show.

Empanadas Monumental, which sits between St. Nicholas and Audubon avenues, was given 71 violation points, nearly three times the 28-point threshold that requires the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene close a business, records show.

The West 181st Street restaurant is one of several locations of Empanadas Monumental in Washington Heights and other nearby neighborhoods.

The outpost is at least partly owned by Eleazar Bueno, the chair of Community Board 12, according to its most recent liquor license application. Bueno recused himself from voting on the liquor license at the board's meeting last month because he is a "partner" with the business.

Bueno did not respond to a request for comment and a call to the restaurant went unanswered.

Inspectors who visited the Dominican restaurant on Friday found that there was evidence of mice or live mice in the eatery and that it was not vermin proof, records show.

They also cited the restaurant for keeping hot food at the wrong temperature, not having a hand washing facility near the food preparation area and bathroom and for not properly washing the "food contact surface," records show.

The eatery's staff were also using tobacco, eating or drinking from an open container near the food preparation, storage or dishwashing area, according to the inspection. There were also problems with the restaurant's plumbing and ventilation systems, inspectors said.

The eatery advertises itself as a "low-key counter-serve chain" that features classic and creative empanadas, along with sandwiches, juice and shakes.