The orange window sign from the town health department notifies patrons that Baskin Robbins is closed for business. It says: “This food establishment is closed until further notice. No food or beverages may be sold, served or removed from the premises,” and is dated Sept. 25. —Jake Kara photo
The Baskin Robbins shop was shut down by the health department Tuesday morning after Director of Health Ed Briggs said the owner was caught sleeping in the Danbury Road ice cream parlor after numerous warnings to stop.
“We’ve had a continuing problem of her, various complaints about her living there,” Mr. Briggs told The Press.
“The original complaint was about her changing in front of the window one time,” he said. “We thought that had been addressed, and we told her to go in the bathroom and don’t do it in an area that was visible to the public. That was months ago.”
But problems persisted at the shop, he said.
“Once in a while I stop and get Starbucks coffee there,” he said. One time, “I happened to look in the window… I observed her washing her hair in the three-bay sink.”
“We… notified corporate — Dunkin’ Brands, which is the franchisee,” he said. “I talked to the senior quality assurance manager. They gave her a course of action that she was supposed to follow.”
However, “on the 19th she was inspected by our office and the inspector told her, look it’s unorganized, it’s cluttered, it’s unclean, you’ve got a lot of personal items here,” he said.
“This morning I stopped at Starbucks to get coffee again, and I noticed something funny: The door was unlocked and ajar,” Mr. Briggs said.
That struck him as odd for an ice cream shop at 7:30 in the morning.
“I sat and watched” for activity, but not one was going in or out, he said. “I said, What’s going on here — is this lady in here and she’s not OK?” he said, referring to the owner Linda Wang. He thought the store might have been broken into.
“I called police dispatch and they dispatched two cruisers down to the scene… We announced ourselves we knocked on the door. There was no answer. We announced ourselves and went in.
Inside, they “saw the same thing, cluttered a lot of personal belongings,” Mr. Briggs said. “The place wasn’t that clean…
“We found the owner of the business sleeping on the floor with a pillow.”
Ms. Wang said she wasn’t sleeping.
“I didn’t sleep,” she said. “I just laid down because my back had a problem,” she said.
For Mr. Briggs, it was the last straw.
“We said, this is the agreement: You’re not supposed to be sleeping here… You’re not following the directions we gave you. You’re not following the directions your franchise gave you,” he said.
Mr. Briggs told her he was “closing you until at least we get some clear directions from the franchise… what actions [it’s] going to take against you.”
He spoke again with Dunkin’ Brands this morning, he said, and his contact told him he would consult its legal department.
Mr. Briggs is holding off on permanent action until at least Monday, but the shop could lose its license.
“Something’s going to be done, either they’re going to do something about it or I’m going to do something about it,” he said.
“I’ve got to determine whether I’m going to let her reopen under strict surveillance by the franchise… or whether were going to just revoke her license…
“We hate like heck to revoke somebody’s license,” he said, but emphasized, “it can’t be allowed to continue.”
On routine inspections, he said, the shop has varied in code compliance, but generally done well in the past.
“It’s up and down — sometimes she’s gotten 99, 98. Other times it was down to an 82 — she had four-point demerit items…
“It was usually pretty good,” until the problem of Ms. Wang allegedly living in the shop, he said.
whatsright
September 25, 2012
why is this in the newspaper. is this really worth reading about
George
September 25, 2012
I think it’s probably kind of newsworthy for Ridgefield. At least now, people know not to go there until it reopens.
We have Baskin, Carvel, the place on Route 7 near the BMW dealer, plus Swizzle’s and Peachwave. And Rebecca’s sells ice cream to go as well. I wonder if a town of 25,000 can support so many ice cream / frozen yogurt places.
Jane Stern
September 25, 2012
Uh, yes….why would you not want to know a place that serves food is filthy?
rdg-oldtimer
September 25, 2012
Is there going to be a moving sale?
Bob
September 25, 2012
So sad. I hope she’s okay.
David
September 26, 2012
This seems kind of harsh to me. Is this the right course of action for Ridgefield to pursue? I could think of a slightly more compassionate response to this situation.
Has there even been a health code violation? Going with what was mentioned in the article, she was seen changing her shirt? I’ve changed my shirt in the office (and more). What is the health code violation in changing one’s shirt? It doesn’t seem right to me that Ridgefield, in some official capacity, told her to change her shirt in the bathroom. I think that’s none of our business. I don’t think we have any type of official say where someone chooses to change a shirt.
She washed her hair in the sink? I’d rather see an employee with clean hair instead of dirty hair, wouldn’t you? Employees wash they hands in the sink all the time. Isn’t washing to be encouraged? If an employee was intentionally dipping his or her hair in the food, that’s one thing. But washing up when no one else is around?? I’m sure I’ve washed up in an office sink after pulling an all nighter.
She was laying on the floor with a pillow. First off, she says she was doing it for her back. Isn’t that possible? Second, suppose she was sleeping. So what? I have slept in my office dozens of times. Do sleeping people suddenly give off more germs than people standing upright? I’m mean, come on, there are so many home based food businesses – caterers for example, who cook and sleep in the same space. Why is it okay for a caterer, but not for this store?
I know these things could be considered unconventional, but is it grounds enough to shut down the shop?
And some of the quotes in the article really trouble me.
*** Mr. Briggs told her he was “closing you until at least we get some clear directions from the franchise… ***
We are not the enforcers for the franchise. If there is a something in our health codes that was violated, please cite the statute and then take action. But to say we are checking with the corporate headquarters…. that should have zero bearing on what Ridgefield the municipality does in this situation. That’s between her and corporate headquarters and I think we should stay out of it.
That’s my opinion.
Stamford31
September 26, 2012
This is terrible way to treat a hard-working small business owner who is a prime example of the backbone of the United States economy.
The door was most likely open and she was most likely there early because Tuesday is an ice cream delivery day.
If health scores are usually pretty good and then this should not be a reflection on the general sanitation of the store.
Since when is it illegal to to have a pillow or catch a few minutes of shut eye in your own business, especially when you have health issues? Were there any other evidence of bedding versus signs of a sole proprietor who spends the majority of their time at their business?
From someone who knows Linda and has been in the business, this seems totally unwarranted. SHAME on the health dept for doing this!!!
Starting Over
September 27, 2012
“Something’s going to be done, either they’re going to do something about it or I’m going to do something about it,” he said.
Seems like Briggs has it in for Linda……
jmm1265
September 27, 2012
This woman and her husband came to America 30 years ago, and have worked incredible hard to build a life here in America. They are great members of the community, and always happy to serve the people who come to the shop.
You would think hard working small business owners would valued in the community, but it seems that’s less true then it used to be. Now, we’re much closer to a police state thats out to get each other, while our kids grow up expecting life to be handed to them on a platter.
Secondhand Rose
September 28, 2012
If your kids are “growing up expecting life to be handed to them on a platter” then YOU have failed as a parent. This isn’t society’s fault.
Secondhand Rose
September 28, 2012
It’s amazing how so many people can overlook the dangerous health aspects of this woman’s living in the middle of her business.
Knowing what you know now, do you really feel that comfortable eating there? Eeeewww, not me.
S McLaughlin
October 2, 2012
Hi, my mother Linda has been a Baskin Robbins franchisee since 1985. Making a success of her Ridgefield store has been her primary concern, especially in this past year when Ridgefield’s economy finally started to lag. As a result, she was forced to economize and has only 2 part time employees. She has worked harder & longer at the expense of her health to ensure the ability to wait out the downtrend…this include burning the midnight oil? Yes.
She has a home 45 mins away but has previously fell asleep at the wheel and totaled her car driving home late one night. She is afraid to have another accident and endanger others. Although she would like to live closer to work, she loves to be with her family and currently cannot afford to maintain a secondary residence in Ridgefield.
To clarify, there is no bed or bedding at the store. She rested on a small cushion & 18″ X 36″ board (now removed) in the storage area, located around the corner from any food prep.
To address your sanitation concerns; prior to 9/19/12, every single one of the Ridgefield health inspections has been in the 90′s, some as high as 98 and 99. To my knowledge, 9/19/12 is the only time the Ridgefield store received a score lower than 90 and had a 4 demerit item. What was it? There was some items in the hand sink–removed. 3 demit items–none. Remaining were non-critical 2 and 1 point items.
If something is not up to standards, please let us know at 360912dunkind@sbcglobal.net so we may correct.
If anyone has a room for rent within walking distance, please let us know ASAP.
The director of health department was out of the office until Monday. After addressing his concerns, he allowed the store to be opened that morning; my mother wanted to attend my husband’s surprise birthday party last night in Norwalk so she remained closed until today.
We received a 98 on today’s Ridgefield health inspection.
My mother Linda would like to thank you all for your support and patronage.