Philly Pizza Open Illegally After Ordered to Shut Doors

Philly Pizza & Grill continues to operate and now faces legal action after being issued a “notice to discontinue illegal use of premises” late Friday afternoon, an order that enforces the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs’ revocation of the restaurant’s certificate of occupancy.

“Philly Pizza must immediately cease operation at 1211 Potomac St. NW upon service of this notice,” according to the notice issued by Zoning Administrator Matthew LeGrant and delivered to Philly Pizza shortly after 3 p.m. Friday.

The D.C. Office of the Attorney General filed with the D.C. Superior Court late Monday seeking a temporary restraining order for Philly Pizza, according to Bill Starrels, vice chairman of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

A temporary restraining order would command Philly Pizza to refrain from operating following issuance of the notice on Friday. Starrels could not confirm if the Office of the Attorney General is pursuing emergency injunctive relief, a more permanent measure that would subject Mehmet Kocak, owner of Philly Pizza, to more serious civil or criminal penalties for failure to comply.

“Technically as I understand it, [Kocak] doesn’t have a certificate of occupancy to be open,” Starrels said.

Philly Pizza was open for business Monday and Maria Bakina, a Philly Pizza employee, said that it would continue operating on Tuesday.

Kocak declined to comment, referring requests for comment to his lawyer, John Patrick Brown Jr., who could not be reached for comment.

“Personally I have no idea why they are still open,” Starrels said. “We’re just anxious to see this chapter closed.”