Downtown Mobile restaurant Spot of Tea, closed for more three weeks amid a dispute between the owner and the Mobile County Health Department, will reopen Friday morning, owner Tony Moore said in a Facebook post late Thursday.

The brief post was a simple teaser that made no reference to recent events. It read, in full:

Open Tomorrow, Friday Feb 2nd

Mardi Gras Hours ~ 8:00am – 2:00pm

~ Under Same Management ~

Tony Moore ~ Proud Owner Since 1994

Spot of Tea has served breakfast and brunch at a prime location off the north side of Cathedral Square since 1994, with its 30th anniversary coming up in December 2024. On Jan. 5, the restaurant received an inspection rating of 60, a score that requires re-inspection within 48 hours. An attempted inspection on Jan. 9 was followed by a prolonged parking-lot standoff between Moore and an MCHD inspection team on Jan. 11, which ended with a citation for illegal operation.

As that played out, Moore created a social media furor with an acrimonious series of Facebook posts (since deleted) accusing the MCHD of unfair treatment. By Jan. 17 he had announced that he couldn’t reopen and that the business and the building were “officially for sale.” He later modified that, saying first that he hoped to reopen and later than he thought the business might reopen under new management.

MCHD has made minimal comment, saying it “does not report on active investigations or inspections.” Mobile County Health Officer Dr. Kevin Philip Michaels has added that the department does not comment on personnel actions but that “we do take all allegations, complaints and comments seriously.”

It appears, based on information provided by Moore, that an inspection early this week by the Alabama Department of Public Health provided a way forward. On Thursday he shared an email sent by the MCHD on behalf of Michaels, which he shared with AL.com:

“Mr. Moore, After review of Spot of Tea file and the most recent inspection performed by ADPH, the management has corrected numerous findings. Some of the additional findings can be corrected with attention to detail on providing hand drying towels at the handwashing sink and cleaning can opener and pans. The Spot of Tea must procure the services of a licensed Pest Control Operator to develop an integrated pest control plan for the facility. It can’t be over emphasized that the presence of a competent and certified food manager, within 120 days, should be able with owner support to maintain and improve the sanitary practices in this facility. I recommend that the suspension be lifted once all unpaid fees in the sum of $410.00 (see attached.) are paid.”

Moore told AL.com later Thursday, prior to his Facebook post, that he was paying the bill, which comprised various inspection fees and the Jan. 11 fine, under protest.

AL.com reached out to an MCHD for comment on the reopening announcement and will update the story with any comment provided.