Health Department closes 2 nightclubs over health code violations

Two nightclubs in the city were ordered closed by the Allegheny County Health Department in recent days for multiple health code violations.

Fat Catz — also known as The Lobbi — at 300 Brownsville Road in Knoxville was shut down for lack of a health permit and operating against a previously issued closure order.

The prior closure was posted in September 2021 for lack of a permit, lack of toilet facilities, use of beverages and ice from an unknown source and failure to submit operating plans prior to opening.

The operator of the facility could not be reached for comment.

Nearby in Carrick, O’Fela African Lounge at 2518 Brownsville Road was cited for operating without a health permit and using carbon monoxide producing equipment without proper ventilation.

The lounge also was cited for evidence of rats and improper wastewater disposal.

The owner of the business, Summer Brown, said she was working to fix the problems.

“As an African American female business owner, I am striving to have a safe place. I don’t want to be a nuisance in any way. These are minor mistakes.”

She said rodent traps were being used as a preventative measure. “We didn’t have rats; we had traps,” she said.

She also said extra heaters were being used on the day of inspection to keep pipes from freezing during below zero weather.

Inspection reports for permitted food facilities in Allegheny County are available at eapps.alleghenycounty.us/restaurant/.