This Week in the Mercury
Monday, January 4, 2010
Food / News Greek Cusina Closes, Owner Blames City
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 10:44 AM
- octo-gone!
The windows of Greek Cusina leave a parting shot at the man Papas blames for his shut-down: "Leonard's Retirement Fund" reads a painted message on the restaurant door, pointing the finger at Commissioner Randy Leonard's Housing Inspection Team. Papas told the Mercury last week that he has paid over $232,000 in fire and safety violation fees since the city started near-constant fire inspections of the building last May.
“How can any business sustain that?” said Papas last week. “At some point, I’m going to run out of cash.” But while Papas blames Leonard's crackdown, it's worth pointing out that over the past decade the owner of Greek Cusina has made himself and his business unpopular in places other than Leonard's office.
Last year, the OLCC threatened to yank Cusina's liquor license after the city fined the restaurant for persistent noise violations. In 2005, a man sued Greek Cusina for $600,000 after three of its security guards allegedly beat him unconscious and, in perhaps Papas' most unpopular moment, the Cusina owner launched a campaign to ban Portland food carts in 2002.
1
Was $232,000 in fines really cheaper than just fixing whatever was prompting the fines to begin with?
3
Well, yeah, but if they *kept getting* fines/fees, doesn't that mean they weren't fixing it? Which would mean if they'd just fixed it, there'd have been no accumulating fines/fees.
8
@tk.: I too tried and failed to find the purple octopus on eBay. New article lied about that. Unless someone else found a link to it.
9
The article says "is putting", not "has put". Maybe the guy is very slow at setting up an eBay auction. Think LOLcats: "I is putting is on teh eBay rights nowz."
11
From the Oregonian: "Leonard said Papas cut out the center of the third floor — including parts of beams — to put in an atrium without getting a permit."
Sounds like Papas didn't like being told he couldn't do whatever the hell he wanted with the building. Doesn't sound like inspectors lying about little things to specifically target and harass the man.
Also couldn't find the octopus on eBay.
Sounds like Papas didn't like being told he couldn't do whatever the hell he wanted with the building. Doesn't sound like inspectors lying about little things to specifically target and harass the man.
Also couldn't find the octopus on eBay.
12
I shall miss the smell of Axe Body Spray that greeted visitors of the Greek Cuisina. Where else does one go to experience the authentic New Jersey gangsta atmosphere while dining on dog food? While I agree that Leonard's tactics may be a little over the top, the real cime here was the service, terrible food, building code violations and a little light racketeering.
If you want something good to eat, try the hush Hush Cafe accross the steet. And if you and your date want to grind in stonewashed jeans well, can't help you there.
If you want something good to eat, try the hush Hush Cafe accross the steet. And if you and your date want to grind in stonewashed jeans well, can't help you there.
13
@Sarah Mirk - Any comment from Leonard on the "near constant" inspections? Are they all legit fines, or is the Cusina-douche correct and it was harrassment? Your article leaves the question unasked, but your tone implies that if it was harassment, it was warranted.
14
Reymont,
Since an inspection last spring turned up 50 code violations, Greek Cusina has been on an unusual "fire watch" where private security officers come through the building every half hour to inspect if for violations, according to the fire bureau. The $232,000 Papas says he has shelled out includes covering the cost of these inspections.
Leonard's office contends that the inspections were warranted. There will be more on this, including Leonard's perspective, later today and in the paper this week.
Since an inspection last spring turned up 50 code violations, Greek Cusina has been on an unusual "fire watch" where private security officers come through the building every half hour to inspect if for violations, according to the fire bureau. The $232,000 Papas says he has shelled out includes covering the cost of these inspections.
Leonard's office contends that the inspections were warranted. There will be more on this, including Leonard's perspective, later today and in the paper this week.
15
That place was for creeps and freaks of the suburban-visitor-to-Portland variation. That being said, I'm sad to see it go because it was like a 'Roach Motel' for the type of people that I didn't want to run into at any other bar in town.
Maybe Barracuda's and McFadden's can expand to cover the loss of space.
Maybe Barracuda's and McFadden's can expand to cover the loss of space.
16
knowing people that have worked there, as well as a neighbor of the Papas family, the recent fire and safety violations followed a storied history of health violations. in short, this place has been a blight on the city for two decades at least.
good f-ing riddance.
good f-ing riddance.
17
@Sarah - Thanks! Inspections every half hour sure seem crazy. How can that be legal, and not just harassment?
I've never even been inside, but I've seen the d-bags lined up outside, and I've read the various d-bag things the owner has said and done...
But still - all those d-bags seemed to like the place, and they're certainly allowed to. Did the city just shut this guy down because he's a d-bag? Is that part of the Fire and Safety Commission's job?
I've never even been inside, but I've seen the d-bags lined up outside, and I've read the various d-bag things the owner has said and done...
But still - all those d-bags seemed to like the place, and they're certainly allowed to. Did the city just shut this guy down because he's a d-bag? Is that part of the Fire and Safety Commission's job?
19
There were tons of health code violations that they should have been closed down for, not to mention how extremely unsafe the building is. It was not a fun place to work, and it was certainly not safe or sanitary in any way. It is better for the public's well being that it is closed.
21
I used to work for Bill Moe in 1969. He was cool with his cuisine. So was Ted Papas. I hate to see a Portland legend be screwed by the City.
22
Cutting out beams in a big building like that, (without a building permit or an engineer,) should get you condemned, not just fined. It isn't some minor violation where you didn't follow procedure: the building could have collapsed and killed people.
23
@LBM: why didn't Ted Papas just put the effort and energy in to getting his building brought up to code? None of his supporters ever seem able to answer that question.
24
$232,000 in fines....Really? Ted, would it be more accurate that you have run up a bill of $232,000 for the fire watch that was required for you to stay in operation. You NEVER paid the city the money they fronted you, thus the $200,000 lien on the property, and you have STIFFED the last three security companies that you hired for the remaining $32,000 since last August. You haven't paid squat the last 19 months. At most you have been dinged a few hundred dollars for Fire Code violations that were SUSTAINED by the fire appeal board.
Sarah - don't swallow his claims about PAYING thousands of dollars in fines / security costs. He has been billed, but never pays. I'm sure Ted could prove me wrong by just showing some cancelled checks...but alas, they don't exist.
Victim of the city my ass...
Sarah - don't swallow his claims about PAYING thousands of dollars in fines / security costs. He has been billed, but never pays. I'm sure Ted could prove me wrong by just showing some cancelled checks...but alas, they don't exist.
Victim of the city my ass...
26
Permits and rules are the biggest legal scam you can do. You will only understand this if you are a business owner. They can change laws and regulations ANYTIME they wish. And the fee's they charge on certain permits are absurd. But no way of fighting it or going against it since the city just "does" it.
I'm sure most business tries there best to go with the regulations but sometimes its the most expensive and hardest thing to maintain. The fee's and permits are THE most expensive part of the business imo. If you guys are so concerned about businesses that are failing to comply with the regulations, and want to shut all of them down, I say over 50% of the business are not in 100% compliance with the city regulations. Thats just how business works.
I'm sure most business tries there best to go with the regulations but sometimes its the most expensive and hardest thing to maintain. The fee's and permits are THE most expensive part of the business imo. If you guys are so concerned about businesses that are failing to comply with the regulations, and want to shut all of them down, I say over 50% of the business are not in 100% compliance with the city regulations. Thats just how business works.
Most Commented on Blogtown, PDX
-
City's "Overnight Sleeping" Program Finds First Host—and Neighbors React in Ugly Fashion by Denis C. Theriault
-
Oh, Did You Think The Great Gatsby Movie Was Going to Be Good? by Alison Hallett
-
Happy World Goth Day! by Marjorie Skinner
-
Game of Thrones Recap: Calm Before the Storm Edition by Joe Streckert
-
Good Morning, News! by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey
-
Feds Dish Out $745.2 Million to the Light Rail by Alex Zielinski
-
Portland Button Works Opens on Killingsworth by Alison Hallett
-
We're Number One! by Alex Zielinski
-
Hecklevision: Point Break—The Wisdom of Point Break by Erik Henriksen
-
Weekend Eatings: Corazón and The Slide Inn by Marjorie Skinner
Our Friends
- UrbanHonking
- Culture Shock
- Portland Roundball Society
- Steph Cassano
- Cort and Fatboy
- Street Roots
- Powell's Books Blog
- Portland Transport
- Portland Afoot
- Bike Portland
- Eater: PDX
- Portland Food and Drink
- Mr. Movie
- Sunday Softball
- BlueOregon
- Sightline Institute
- Ultra: Arts Portland
- Bitch Magazine
- Blazer's Edge
- Reading Local: Portland
- Portland Food Carts
- Stumptown Vegans
Our Enemies
The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.
Bands Page
Housing
Jobs
Musicians
For Sale
Wheels
Services
Health
The Arts
Friends 'N' Neighbors
Bulletin Board
Personals
Adult
RSSGoing to Seattle?
Comments (26) RSS