SAVE GOKO CAFE!!! goes the e-mail sent to The Lagunan at least 6 times since a front-page story came out in the INDY about its imminent demise due to changing market conditions....and the fact, it turns out, that the OC Health Dept. noticed a few, er, infractions, pretty much every time it paid Goko a visit. Seems locals want to petition to keep this cute, homey, albeit grungy mom and pop cafe in a prime location where the landlords want to install a Quiznos sandwich shop.
Then an interesting exchange ensued, with a short message to all from an area journalist who received the "Save Goko!!!" e-mail, labeled "The other side of the story. " It went like this:
FYI - There is a reason the current owners of the building would like another business there. It is my understanding that while the community concern about Quiznos will be addressed, here are the health department reports for the past two years on GOKOS
http://foodinspections.ocgov.com/foodinspections/insp.aspx?record_id=PR0021705&agency=OCH&violsortfield=TB_CORE_INSPECTION_VIOL.ENTERED_BY&violsortorder=desc
Sure enough -- ick. But then it got even juicier.
Back came another e-mail from a fellow who took the time to search and report back on the OC Health Department's findings in several favorite Laguna eateries. Read on:
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Hello. Since you have plainly "accused" Goko's of running a dirty, unhealthy kitchen that should by all rights be closed, I think it only fair to point out that by using the same yard-stick, the following establishments should also be shot down – and each sooner than Goko’s!
In 2007 based on routine inspections year-to-date:
GOKO’S CAFE: 3 MAJOR violations, 11 minor violations
ANNALIESE SCHOOL 4 MAJOR violations, 12 minor violations
ANASTASIA’S CAFE: 5 MAJOR violations, 24 minor violations
COTTAGE RESTAURANT 5 MAJOR violations, 20 minor violations
ALISO CREEK INN 5 MAJOR violations, 15 minor violations, 1 PERMIT SUSPENSION
LOFT at Montage Hotel 5 MAJOR violations, 12 minor violations
A LA CARTE 5 MAJOR violations, 16 minor violations
CLAES at Hotel Laguna 6 MAJOR violations, 1 minor violation , 2 PERMIT SUSPENSIONS
QUIZNOS, Lake Forest 4 MAJOR violations, 24 minor violations
This information is readily available at the County website:
http://foodinspections.ocgov.com/foodinspections/main.aspx?agency=och
I’m glad that the County is tough on all our eating establishments, but Goko’s history with the health department provides ZERO justification for whether a long-standing business should be replaced with a cookie-cutter FRANCHISE.
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The Lagunan here again. I just have to wonder aloud -- has anyone ever worked in a restaurant or cafe? If so, you know what goes on behind the swinging door if the establishment's managers are not vigilant, whether mom and pop are in charge or someone hired to wear the tie. I know at least one person who was sickened after eating at Goko and never returned. Everyone needs to eat, even the creatures we call vermin. If restaurants aren't able to keep the varmints out of the ingredients, wash their dishes in water hot enough to kill bacteria, make sure the refrigerator is actually refrigerating, they should get their just deserts -- for everybody's good.
2 comments:
It is crystal clear to me that this is just another pathetic attempt to shut GOKO'S CAFE down(verbally & physically). Seems to
be that somebody,somewhere is biting their finger nails because of the fact that GOKO's has such a strong and loyal local following. Rumors are spreading that one of the new owners is actually a person who got sick at GOKO's, even though he never ate there. If that was the case than why wasn't anyone notified about it? What a coincidence! We all know that the public can access the Health Department at any time by calling, 714-433-6000 concerning this matter and I encourage them to do so. If anybody actually got sick eating food at GOKO's, I'm sure the place wouldn't even be open, and knowing George and Connie and their dedication to health of all the customers and community in general I am sure they would do something about it. They are nice, sincere and hard working couple who have earned their respect in the community through 15 years of hardwork and dedication to health. All and all this looks like another pathetic attempt by the new owners to present themselves as the good guys by belittling GOKO cafe and it's owners by spreading lies like little children. For a moment there I thought that this Main Beach Realty had some brains behind them but now they are showing their true face and making themselves look even more ridiculous. "Come on guys,
how low can you go"?
I wonder if anyone is actually listening to you. Bleached smiles and lots of money can't buy you everything in this world especially respect.
REMEMBER..... BOYCOTT...MAIN BEACH REALTY ... AND THEIR LAME ACTIONS.... because lame people can bring only more and more lame people around. SAVE LAGUNA AND LAGUNANS WHILE WE STILL CAN.. Help prevent this money-hungry, heartless
"People" from raping our towns spirit and soul by creating another commercial, stereo type business which strips our town's identity.
The person I know who was made ill at Goko's is a friend of mine, and I don't imagine he is going around telling people about it in order to run a hard-working couple out of business. Boycott whomever you like, but know too that now that big money has come to Laguna, we will all be seeing a great many changes that we don't like. And most of the realtors in town have lived here as long as everyone else, seen Laguna through ups and downs...so they qualify as Lagunans too. And their kids go to school with ours, they donate to the causes we believe in....It sure gets complicated quickly when you try to find the villain in a beach town's sudden fortune, doesn't it?
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