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Local McDonald's closed due to sewage

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — CORRECTION:Three other McDonalds owned by the franchisee did not close because of previous failed inspections. The failed inspections were remedied without closure.

A local McDonald’s restaurant was closed by the King County health department because sewage backed up into the restaurant.

The McDonald’s in Issaquah, at 1305 NW Gilman Blvd., had an “imminent health hazard” from a sewage backup in the kitchen, according to Public Health Seattle and King County.

The restaurant was closed at 4:10 p.m. Monday and had not been reopened Tuesday. Above a sign that said "when delicious happens here" and listed the hours was another sign saying that the store was closed. "Sorry for the inconvenience."

But a spokeswoman for the King County Health Department said the whole incident was handled badly.  She said the restaurant should have shut itself down with such an extensive sewage problem, and it took a customer complaint before the health department realized what happened and stepped in.

Property records indicate and the health department confirmed Sammamish businessman Alan Finkelstein owns the McDonald’s in Issaquah.  He also owns ones in in Kent, Sammamish and Maple Valley.

Health department records show the Sammamish McDonald’s failed an inspection earlier this year, the Kent location failed inspections in 2011 and in 2012, and the Maple Valley McDonald’s failed two inspections twice already this year.

Finkelstein did not come to the door of his home when KIRO 7 knocked looking for comment. He did not appear to be home. Through a spokesman, he released a statement that said he was working to fix a plumbing problem in Issaquah. The statement made no mention of any of his other locations.

Deb Sogge, executive director of the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce, defended Finkelstein outside his Sammamish location.

“He is very well connected to his restaurants, works in them, does all the right things at the right times that I know of,” Sogge said.

Officials did not indicate that any customers had become sick from eating at the McDonald’s in Issaquah.  Finkelstein said in his statement he hopes to re-open Wednesday.

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