Aside from approving a multi-million dollar new facility for the golf course which it never should have owned in the first place, it’s been quite some time since Apple Valley has done something incredibly stupid. Unfortunately following a variety of very serious violations at the incredibly disgusting ‘Spoon’ restaurant located near McDonald’s, Apple Valley’s City Council allowed the business to continue operating with a liquor license even though all common sense dictates they do the opposite.
From this article which appeared in the Star Tribune:
Fire department inspectors have warned but not cited the Spoon for 27 fire code violations since January 2011. The violations include repeatedly obstructing fire exits and exceeding the 265-person maximum capacity, Fire Chief Nealon Thompson said. He said the owners removed tables and chairs to comply with occupancy limits, but when inspectors returned months later, the extra tables and chairs were back. That narrowed aisles and would impede patron egress in a fire emergency, Thompson said.
[...]
A police report noted that on Sept. 3, a promoter hired three guards, ages 23 to 26, who carried loaded handguns and were not licensed security guards as state law requires. The trio, who had permits to carry guns, also were drinking while on duty, said police, who broke up three fights that night.
[...]
The last major disturbance was Oct. 27, when a party bus brought revelers to the Spoon. Patrons scattered that night when a man brandished a handgun, the police report said. Police never found the gun but broke up fights involving about 25 people. Rechtzigel said about 10 squad cars were needed, including backup from neighboring cities, to gain control.
While the owner claims the fire inspector is lying and the police department harasses his customers, there is no evidence city employees are at fault. Even though Apple Valley’s police chief recommended termination of their liquor license or allow it to continue with serious limitations tacked on. Instead, the City Council approved a temporary, one month, permit and work on a more permanent license to be voted on in the future.
Listen, I’m all about local governments staying out of the business of private industry. In fact, I would prefer they have as little input as possible. However, one of the sole purposes of government is to provide adequate public safety protections for its citizens. While the police chief advocated for termination of their liquor license (which supposedly would have killed their business — a welcome outcome in this instance), the City Council voted to let it continue. Residents of this city should not be subjected to ANY violence, especially gun violence and fighting requiring responses from neighboring communities or serious fire violations which were completely ignored.
Why the City Council feels they need yet another opportunity to make changes no one knows. They have repeatedly done little following requests for public safety changes and blatantly ignored fire safety violations. They had their chance and it’s time for them to no longer be a part of the Apple Valley community.
Do you think Spoon’s ownership deserves anymore chances? Do you want gun violence, fist fights, and fire safety violations in your town? Do you believe the claims of the owners that they were repeatedly harassed by public safety officials? If you do, do you think the police and fire departments were doing what they needed to in order to stop the problems? Whatever you have to say about this one, go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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January 14th, 2013 at 8:37 am
I had no idea that Spoon was such a happening place. Might have to bring the family.
January 14th, 2013 at 8:44 am
When I read that article on Sunday it was the first time I had heard of anything going on in that place…ever. I have driven by that place numerous times at different hours and I never seen much activity going on there at all let alone wanna be gangstas and armed security guards looking to raise hell.
Sounds like he’s already agreed to stop renting the place out to anybody willing to plunk down cash for their private “events” so 90% of his problems should go away.
If you have to rely on private rentals to make it, then you got other problems, like the dated 60′s style mall it’s located in that doesn’t look like it’s seen a paintbrush since 1979.
8 police calls to a business over the course of 1.5 years doesn’t sound like this is a hotbed of criminal activity, I see police cars at Wal-Mart almost every other visit. How many calls did Rascals get in that same time period?
Sounds like there’s more to this story than code violations though.
January 14th, 2013 at 8:44 am
I don’t know.
It sounds like the majority, if not all of the problems were created by the owner’s willingness to rent his establishment to promoters of events that could not control the people that attended the events there. As well, when the police informed the owner that one upcoming event may have involved gang members, he immediately canceled the event and has also promised to stop letting people rent the place for these types of events in the future.
I think it is a pretty good call to give him a temporary permit to prove these days are behind him. If he keeps it clean then let him keep going. It seems like there are a few people that think he can or he’d already have had the permit revoked.
I don’t have any idea if Spoon is decent enough to make it on the merits of the restaurant operation alone, since I don’t even know where it is. If it can do that, then it beats having another boarded up business.
January 14th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
I’ve never seen anyone there. I made the mistake of eating there last year when Eric was still at home. It was pretty foul. I figured they were going out of business… now I learn it’s a HipHop Crime Scene.
Lets see here, bouncers packing, and drinking on premisis with no licenses. Ignoring fire codes. Private parties and altercations…
So call me stupid but if I were still living in my home town, Stockton CA a city with a tremendous Vietnamese population and a huge gang problem there would be some hard questions to ask in a case with less particulars than this.
January 14th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
In regards to the golf course, what is the deal with the “Shame on You Valleywood” sign that was always manned by some labor dispute people on the corner of Pilot Knob and McAndrews?
They were out there every morning until recently when, after dropping the oldest off at school there was a cop talking to one of them and I have yet to see them back at that corner to this date.
Have always been meaning to find out what it was all about but came up short in the little searching I did on the subject matter.
January 14th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
I ate at Spoon once shortly after the name change because I wanted dim sum and was already in the area. I don’t remember being impressed by it. And the space seemed really, really big. I’m actually surprised it’s still open, because I didn’t expect it to last long.
January 14th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
What, all those guns, it must be the safest place in the city!
January 15th, 2013 at 6:06 am
With Patrick Swayze dead, and Sam Elliot busy on a voice over project, I can see why the owners had to throw up their hands and just hire some guys fresh from the permit to carry course at Gander Mountain.
January 15th, 2013 at 9:30 am
I’ve never had occasion to go inside Spoon. The online photo gallery they have is reason enough for us old guys to never break the plane of the door. I would love for someone to come in and do something about that outdated little area over there. If I want some dim sum I’m making the drive to University in St. Paul.
January 16th, 2013 at 11:54 am
@listorlinks: I can only speculate that non-union labor was used to build all or some of the new $3,000,000.00+ clubhouse that will open this year.
Like yourself, I can’t find anything on it either using Google
January 26th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
spoon denied of liquor license, probably sealing the fate of this place.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
And this is why they should never have even, for a minute, considered anything else. The biggest problem was that the council suggested they try for a beer license instead on a full liquor license.
No. Just fucking die already.
March 12th, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Surfing around to see how people talking about Spoon. Didn’t know we are this famous. More people know about Spoon now, we don’t have to waste $$$ for advertising companies. The truth is never reveal. McDonald’s had gun shots and much bigger fights than us. We complied with Fire department since opened. Please if you don’t know the truth, don’t comments. We are just a single sand in the dessert.
March 12th, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Surfing around how’s people talking about Spoon. Thanks for all of your interests. How do you the officials don’t lie? If you want to see any proof, come to Spoon. McDonald’s had gun shots in June and about 50 grad students fighting there. Talk about it. We are just a single sand in the dessert. Thank you.
March 12th, 2013 at 10:47 pm
What.
March 13th, 2013 at 9:22 am
Dear Mrs Spoon,
You forgot to mention that you are one of the owners of this establishment. When you post about your own business, it is expected that you identify yourself.
Since you don’t have advertising companies, allow me to give you some free advice.
STOP POSTING like this. Much of what you said doesn’t make any sense. Talking about problems at other businesses does not raise you up. Neither does accusing officials of lying. (If you have some evidence of that, let’s hear it.). It makes you look petty.
March 13th, 2013 at 9:24 am
Well, if the City doesn’t shut them down, the Grammar Police will.
March 13th, 2013 at 11:15 am
Naw, the Grammar Police are clearly lazy.
March 13th, 2013 at 11:26 am
I don’t like sand in my dessert and you can’t make me eat it.
March 13th, 2013 at 11:31 am
My English is not so good because I wasn’t born here and I’m Asian. At least, you are understand my point. I didn’t try to hide my identity, if I did you wouldn’t know I’m the owner. My whole family is working everyday to earn a living. We don’t want to shut down and apply for financial help from State. We don’t want to use others tax money. We want to give money to the State helping others who are more unfortunate. Please forgive my grammars. Thank you.
March 13th, 2013 at 11:47 am
Sorry, desert!
March 14th, 2013 at 5:00 am
All your bases are belong to us!
March 14th, 2013 at 6:42 am
Sorry base!
March 29th, 2013 at 8:13 am
According to Patch – the AV Counsel reinstated Spoon’s Beer and Wine license.