Health Department

Regulators continue to crack down on the infamous Kalua Cabaret in Jamaica, Queens -- site of the controversial 2006 police shooting that claimed the life of Sean Bell.

First, the State Liquor Authority stripped the notorious strip club of its liquor license. Now, health inspectors have shuttered the topless juice joint for a number of unsanitary conditions, including evidence of mice.

First, it was the "water leak in the kitchen" voice message. Now, it's a "Closed for Renovations" sign.

Given all the buzz in the papers (here, here, here ...) and on TV (here, here, here ...) about the mice and cockroaches, does Serendipity 3 honcho Steven Bruce really think he can fool anyone with this deceptive signage?

Won't people just look beyond the simple white sheet of paper and notice those glaring yellow "CLOSED BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE" stickers in the background?

Random passer-by at 2:32 p.m. on Friday: "Awwww! Closed for renovations? That sucks!"

Guess there's something to this oft-used restaurateuring strategy after all.

Bonnie's Grill, home to perhaps Park Slope's best beef burgers (yet arguably worst veggie burgers), remained shuttered on Friday--one week after becoming the latest casualty in the Health Department's reactionary rat-frenzy crusade.

The tiny hipster hangout, located along trendy Fifth Avenue, between 1st and Carroll streets, has twice failed inspections since March. (Read the reports here and here.)  read more »