Coming soon or suspended operations? A tale of two signs at midtown hookah lounge
A bright yellow sign hangs across the front door of this venue at 3421 Broadway — “Hookah Shop Coffee coming soon.”
But behind the coming soon sign is another sign, this one placed on the front door by the Kansas City Health Department saying the business has been suspended.
The department temporarily suspended the operations of Ali Baba Hookah Lounge on March 11 “due to the number of food code and smoking ordinance violations.” Ali Baba must correct all violations and submit a written request for a re-inspection and pass the inspection before it can reopen.
Ali Baba officials could not be reached for comment.
The lounge serves smoothies, sodas, lattes, hot tea and coffee so a certified food service operations manager must be present in the food service area and on duty when the lounge is open for business. But the only employee on duty at the time of the inspection did not have a card, according to the
.
Other violations included pink mold inside the chute of the ice machine and alcohol cans/drink debris throughout the lounge. The person in charge at the time of the inspection stated the establishment currently bans all alcohol from the lounge and has hired a bodyguard to check patrons when the enter.
As for the two signs, the Ali Baba owners did not technically violate the word of the food code by covering up the suspension sign with a “coming soon” sign, according to the health department, but they did violate the intent. A Health Department representative places the suspension sign where it will be visible and no one except a representative of the Health Department may take it down.
A posting on the lounge’s Facebook pages says: “Due to the renovational work, Ali Baba will be closed until further notice! Our Ali Baba crew is working hard to bring you the best entertainment yet to come!”
This story was originally published March 17, 2014 at 9:53 AM with the headline "Coming soon or suspended operations? A tale of two signs at midtown hookah lounge."