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Copabanana shut down by Philly judge

Copabanana has reliably served up margaritas and burgers for nearly 40 years on South Street.

Update: Copabanana was cleared to reopen on Sept. 5.

Copabanana has reliably served up margaritas and burgers for nearly 40 years on South Street.

In an interview with the Inquirer last year, the restaurant's owners said the secret to Copa's long run was "consistency."

But another kind of consistency may prove to be the landmark restaurant's undoing.

This year, Copabanana has routinely failed health inspections. On Thursday morning, Court of Common Pleas Judge Nina Wright-Padilla ordered the eatery to cease operations for 48 hours and pay a $500 fine "due to persistent and serious health-code violations,"  Kristin K. Bray, chief deputy city solicitor, wrote in an email.

" Upon a determination by the Health Department that the Copabanana has remedied the violations, the establishment will be permitted to re-open," she wrote.

It marks the third time this year that Copa has been ordered to shut down. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health ordered the restaurant to discontinue operations on Feb. 22 and May 17.

The court order, which described conditions at the restaurant as "health risk to the patrons and public," listed 14 unsatisfactory inspections dating back to February 2015.

"We have had a big argument with the Health Department," said owner Dan Christensen, who plans to reopen Copa for lunch on Saturday -- if it passes inspection. "We've had a few repeat violations, but some of them weren't health issues."

In Philadelphia, the Health Department usually inspects a restaurant once a year. Department sanitarians have dropped in on Copabanana eight times this year, repeatedly citing it for persistent problems. The most recent inspection, on Aug. 31, turned up mouse droppings in the kitchen, food held at temperatures that promote the growth of dangerous bacteria, and an employee touching ready-to-serve food with her bare hands. Each was a repeat violation.

The sanitarian also noted several minor infractions, including a pack of cigarettes on a bar counter and a missing lid on a trash can.

Christensen said some of the restaurant's slip-ups are attributable to causes outside of his control.

"There's construction on the street, and there was a fire next door that took out an ice machine," he said.

He expects the frequent inspections to continue.

"It seems like it's once a month," he said. "They want no violations two times in a row."

In addition to the temporary closure, Copa was ordered to pay the city $4,020 in past-due inspection fees and appear for another court hearing on Oct. 13.

[SHIRTTAILNEW]samwood@phillynews.com 215-854-2796 @samwoodiii