Family committed to taking all steps necessary to do so

Published in the July 19, 2018 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — The latest news on Kitty’s from the North Reading Health Department indicates that the restaurant may be cleared to re-open for business by the end of this week.

The family-run business also released a statement expressing their “devastation” over the incident as well as their commitment to “winning back the loyalty of our valued customers.”

They stated they will demonstrate this commitment by giving “their establishment a top to bottom review for food safety and compliance” beyond what is required by public health officials.

Local and state health officials met onsite with Kitty’s owners, management and employees for several hours last Friday morning, July 13 and reviewed additional lab testing protocols to ensure that any employee exposed to Salmonella during the outbreak in late June and early July no longer has it prior to the restaurant being allowed to reopen. State Health Department confirmation would be made by two consecutive lab tests taken by the affected employees 24 hours apart.

According to the most recent statement issued by the office of North Reading Health Director Robert F. Bracey last Friday, as of July 12 there were “19 confirmed cases of salmonella illness, including several Kitty’s employees.”

KITTY’S STRONG. Bartenders from Kitty’s Restaurant and Lounge gathered outside the restaurant Tuesday night sporting T-shirts with the classic Siamese cat logo and the message “Kitty’s Strong” with designers Dave Richards (back row, at left) and Penny Richards (front row, far right). Made next door at Advanced Photo, $5 from each T-shirt sold will be donated to a fund to benefit the employees who haven’t been working during the closure. (Al Pereira/Advanced Photo)

The statement further indicated that the North Reading Health Department, along with state Department of Public Health representatives “met with management and employees of the establishment on Friday morning, July 13, to re-initiate Salmonella testing. This testing has been implemented to protect the public and employees of the establishment by ensuring that employees return to work at the establishment only after being confirmed to be free of Salmonella.”

“Testing protocols stipulate that two negative test results 24 hours apart determine an individual is free of Salmonella.”

“Based on this requirement the earliest that any employee could likely be determined to be free of Salmonella is Thursday or Friday, July 19 or 20.”

“Only upon compliance with state and local health laws, regulations, and orders, and upon Kitty’s confirmation that sufficient staffing and food supplies to operate the restaurant are available, will Kitty’s be allowed to re-open,” the statement concluded, noting that the local Health Department will continue to work with both Kitty’s and the state regarding this situation.

Public statement by Kitty’s

Subsequent to last Friday’s meeting with local and state health officials, Kitty’s Restaurant & Lounge released the following public statement about the Salmonella incident and provided a copy of it to the Transcript.

The statement addresses their commitment to their customers and their family restaurant, as well as the pro-active steps being taken to ensure “to the extent humanly possible” that such an incident does not re-occur once they reopen.

The statement is reprinted in its entirely below:

The principals and managers of Kitty’s Restaurant & Lounge commented today on the recent closure of the establishment due to an apparent Salmonella incident.

Manager Scott White noted: “In our 75-year history of excellence in food preparation and service, we have never had an incident like this. Our hearts go out to any of our valued patrons who might have been affected by this situation for a full and speedy recovery.”

The Director of Public Health and Town Administrator are working closely with the Kitty’s Team to identify the cause, such that operations of the restaurant, an institution in the region for decades, can reopen as soon as possible.

Debra Birkmaier, also a principal, stated: “As we should, we are treating this matter very seriously, such that to the extent humanly possible we will not ever have a reoccurrence.” Debra’s sister Jill, also a manager of Kitty’s, added: “Our friends, families and loved ones dine here at Kitty’s. We simply are devastated that this has happened, and are committed to winning back the loyalty of our valued customers.”

In a demonstration of their commitment to give their establishment a top to bottom review for food safety and compliance, White pointed out that Kitty’s has retained Boston attorney John GF Ruggieri, of Dwyer, Ruggieri, Spino & Goncalves, LLC. Mr. Ruggieri’s firm, which represents many restaurant and hospitality businesses, will act as liaison to the Health Department, as well as the Town, to ensure compliance with all necessary steps to reopen the business in an orderly manner.

Ruggieri noted: “In addition to following all health department guidelines to the letter, Kitty’s will go further and engage in more internal training and controls as to food handling. They will also ensure that the business managers and lead staff are ServSafe qualified.” (ServSafe company is a leader in training and certification by foodservice professionals to ensure safe food handling procedures.)

Ruggieri continued: “Sometimes a bad event hits even the best run businesses. We believe this is such an unfortunate event, and my clients will work tirelessly to correct this situation for the benefit of all the many future customers, and many employees as well.”

White closed his statement noting: “We again apologize for this incident, and in the coming days, we are committed to working with the appropriate officials to get our entire staff cleared for return to work and reopening. We are closing temporarily to take steps, above and beyond what is required, in order to ensure a safe establishment, not only for our guests, but our employees as well. Cost is no object as we discard our foodstuffs onsite to further ensure safety. We appreciate and echo all the calls for concern as to those customers impacted. We also appreciate those of you calling us to offer their best wishes for our future here at Kitty’s.”

Community responds

Many customers of Kitty’s and associates of the White family have shown unwavering support for the business throughout this situation in the numerous discussions posted on public social media forums over the past two weeks.

Among them was lifelong resident Paula Mastro who summed up that loyalty with this post stating that for years “Kitty’s has supported North Reading, from their large yearly ad in the High School yearbooks and supportive Transcript ads to supporting Relay for Life, the Rotary and sports teams, etc. These donations add up but, Kitty’s has always been there to support our town. The owners of Kitty’s are a proud family business. The news came as much of a shock to them as it did to most, I’m sure. I know they will take care of any and all issues.”

Local residents Dave and Penny Richards and local business owner Al Pereira, whose shop is next door to the restaurant, have teamed up to design a “Kitty’s Strong” T-shirt featuring the restaurant’s iconic Siamese cat logo which have proven to be popular on Advanced Photo’s social media page. Pereira has pledged to donate $5 for every T-shirt sold to give to the employees who have been out of work due to the restaurant closure.

Bartenders at Kitty’s saw the T-shirts online and ordered them as well. A large group of them gathered outside the restaurant Tuesday night to pose for a photo wearing them as a show of support that they are eager to return to work as well.