Bowling Green Prosecutor Matt Reger indicated he recently filed charges to get the Corner Grill to rectify fire safety issues regarding its grill vent.
According to Matt Reger, Corner Grill owner Larry Cain has known about the couple hundred fire safety violations and threat of closure for three years.
“Charges were filed and are currently pending,” Reger said. “We are currently working with their attorney to work on the issue and hopefully he [Cain] can get everything fixed.”
The eatery shut down April 28 due to fines, amounting to $3,600, the business would receive for having an exhaust hood that broke fire code violations. Matt Reger agreed to not fine Cain after seeing plans of renovation submitted by the Wood County Building Department in December of 2009, allowing the business to re-open.
“The pre-trial of this case will be in November. He has a six month period to comply with these charges,” Reger said. “Meaning if the safety issues regarding the grill vent are not taken care of by February, then either he will have to shut down, or plead to the charges filed against him.”
The vent is considered a hazard because it is under a stairwell attached to a building to the immediate north of the Corner Grill. There is a space of several feet between the two buildings where the stairwell is built; a big safety concern said Reger.
“It is his decision on whether or not he will decide to close down, or plead to the charges if the issue is not remedied by February,” he said. “Of course, the fines that will come with pleading guilty will most likely result in closure anyway.”
The 59-year-old eatery at North Main and East Court streets has been in discussions with the city about the problem for approximately two years.
“The intent was never so that the Corner Grill will have to close,” Reger said. “We are trying to correct a problem and are working with them to solve it.”
Cain could not comment at this time, but according to an article on bgscene.com he said, “This building is grandfathered, meaning I don’t have to change the equipment I have. But if I were building a new establishment, I would have to change everything because it’s not up to code. I don’t want to do too much because everybody’s complaining about it already. They say, ‘Don’t change anything!'”
Corner Grill regular Ally Barnett said she frequents the eatery when she goes out to the bars on the weekends.
“The place is open 24 hours a day, so I like to stop in when I’m on my way home from a night out,” Barnett said. “It’s so much more comforting to get a plain old fashioned grilled cheese and french fries than it is going somewhere crowded and loud like Taco Bell.”
Barnett said she hopes for the Grill’s success in the next few months so she can continue going to the establishment.
“I’m sure they will work everything out and get what needs to be up to code, fixed,” she said. “I would miss the place if it were gone!”
