RICHMOND, Va. -- A well-known restaurant off Hull Street temporarily closed Tuesday.
An employee of Croaker's Spot contacted CBS 6 after the hot water heater broke on Saturday and the restaurant remained open.
"They should be closed to the public," Antonio Simon, a self-described disgruntled employee said.
Simon, who says he was burned on his leg when the water heater broke, said he worries dishes may not have been properly cleaned or employees' hands not properly washed.
CBS 6 reporter Joe St. George asked to use the bathroom at Croaker's Spot and discovered no hot water. Managers confirmed that the hot water was not working but that they are not required to shut down.
Then by 1 p.m. Tuesday, however, Croaker's Spot decided to temporarily shut down.
"We are voluntarily doing this," Cherita McGowen, a manager, said.
A new hot water heater is expected to be installed later this week.
The Virginia Department of Health tells CBS 6 restaurants are not required to close if they use hot water, but they must follow certain procedures. They include these following rules according to VDH's Kenneth Smith.
The restaurant did not lose total water service, so boiling water on the stove to wash dishes and hands is acceptable.
The sanitizing rinse is done with chemicals, so hot water is not necessary.
The restaurant would also go to single service articles such as paper plates, knives, forks, spoons, etc.
The restaurant in question chose to voluntarily cease operations at this time, due the fact the replacement parts are coming from Pennsylvania and will take a little time to get here.
