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Jay-Z's 40/40 Club Closed for Health Violations

By DNAinfo Staff on January 21, 2012 2:10pm

Jay-Z on the red carpet at the re-opening of his 40/40 club on Jan. 18th, 2012.
Jay-Z on the red carpet at the re-opening of his 40/40 club on Jan. 18th, 2012.
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DNAinfo/Paul Lomax

By Sarah Tan and Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo Staff

MANHATTAN — Jay-Z's got 69 problems — and his food is one.

The hip-hop mogul and proud papa's recently relaunched 40/40 Club was shuttered by the Health Department Thursday, just a day after the Flatiron hot spot reopened following a $10 million makeover.

The Department of Health slapped the West 25th Street nightclub with a whopping 69 violation points — 28 being the threshold above which establishments receive a "C" grade — citing a failure to keep food at appropriate temperatures and a lack of employee cleanliness.

The celebrity hangout was also docked points for an employee not using proper utensils to avoid bare-hand contact with food, the result of a staffer mixing salsa with his bare hands, the New York Post reported.  

The 40/40 Club recently reopened after a $10 million renovation.
The 40/40 Club recently reopened after a $10 million renovation.
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the4040club.com

An employee answering the phone at the club on Saturday said a broken refrigerator was the cause of the violations, but claimed the establishment never actually shuttered during regular business hours.

"We were never shut down," the staffer said, noting the club closed at its normal time of 4 a.m. on Thursday and opened at its regular time of 5 p.m. Friday. 

The Post said the club's restaurant was closed immediately after the inspection and that new patrons were prevented from entering, but that those inside the space at the time were allowed to stay. The club reportedly reopened Friday, despite the Health Department's website indicating it is still closed.

The night prior to its inspection, Jay-Z hosted an A-list party at the 40/40 Club to celebrate its reopening, with celebrities such as Russell Simmons, Spike Lee, CC Sabathia and Warren Buffett reportedly on hand.

During its last health inspection in April 2011, the club was hit with 39 violation points.