Homeless Shelter Group In Control Of Hotel And Restaurant

Port LaBelle Inn And Restaurant Taken Over By Religious Group

LABELLE, FL. -- Reports received today indicate the Port LaBelle Inn and Oxbow Grill will be taken over by the Saint Matthews House of Collier County. The non-profit organization operates homeless shelters and alcohol and drug rehab centers in Southwest Florida.

The hotel and restaurant has been in controversy over recent firings of personnel along with food safety and building safety violations in recent months and public outcry over the possibility of a rehab operation taking over the hotel.

Controversy reigned last year as St. Matthews House of Collier County applied to Hendry County officials for a special use to turn the hotel, restaurant and bar, and conference center into a drug rehab center, with a sale by the current owner contingent upon county approval.

The Hendry Commissioners turned down the request after public comments opposing the use, and Hendry zoning officials also not recommending the change.

St. Matthews House is reportedly closing down the bar, which has a 7COP Retail Beverage License where alcohol sales have been ongoing for many years. At this time is not clear if St. Matthews House will attempt to place drug and alcohol clients in the 50 room hotel, or operate the facility as a public hotel.

At a meeting with employees Tuesday night, the owners said because advance reservations have been taken for the hotel for the next few months, the bar will remain open. No definite date for it's closing was offered although it is a surety that the religiously oriented organization will close it.

The previous owner, a truck stop operator from Ohio, bought the property for $900,000 in 2008.

Public Safety Issues Reported By State Inspections:

The hotel and restaurant has had it share of state inspection problems going back for many years. A March 18, 2014 inspection by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation found two high priority code violations against the hotel, including no certificate of a balcony inspection and also finding the front desk clerk did not know where the hearing-impaired smoke detectors were located. Warnings were issued and a follow-up is now required for compliance.

According to the state, the hotel has been operating without an elevator license which expired August 1, 2013.

Further problems were found in the restaurant. An inspection by state food safety inspectors in January found three violations including two high priority:

08B-37-4 Basic - Food stored in a prohibited area. Greens in contact with wet towel. Greens voluntarily discarded. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-05-4 High Priority - Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food. Raw beef over oranges in reachin cooler, as well as beef over cooked chicken. **Warning**
53B-01-4 Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR's contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. **Warning**
02B-02-4 Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. **Warning**

A follow up inspection March 18, 2014 found two "intermediate violations" with a follow up inspection required for correction:

53B-01-4 Intermediate - No proof of required state approved employee training provided for any employees. To order approved program food safety material, call DBPR''s contracted provider: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (SafeStaff) 866-372-7233. **Warning** on callback 3/18/14 observed no proof of any employee training.
02B-02-4 Intermediate - Raw/undercooked animal food offered and establishment has no written consumer advisory. Raw animal foods must be fully cooked prior to service. **Warning** on Callback 3/14/14 observed no consumer advisory for establishment.