Mamie Taylor’s cuts ties with Crab Park Chowdery after rat found in soup

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) —  The owner of Mamie Taylors says he won’t be doing business with the Crab Park Chowdery anymore after a viral video showing a rat in a bowl of soup at the restaurant went viral.

Mamie Taylor’s rented out a secondary kitchen in the basement of the building to Crab Park Chowdery – a commissary kitchen. They also operate a separate restaurant using a different kitchen on the main floor.

RELATED: Mamie Taylor’s open again after video shows rat served in soup made for Crab Park Chowdery

Vancouver Coastal Health shut down the entire restaurant at Mamie Taylor’s while they investigated what happened, and found evidence of rodents, but only in the commissary kitchen. This space that was being rented out by the Crab Park Chowdery, and the kitchen remains closed.

WATCH: Apparent rat found in Vancouver soup

Now Mamie Taylor’s has re-opened the doors to its restaurant, and owner Ron Oliver says he feels ‘vindicated’ now that Vancouver Coastal Health has allowed his business to re-open.

But the Chowdery won’t be allowed to use their commissary kitchen in the basement anymore.

RELATED: Burger joint closes after video appears to show rat cooking

“I think it’s just best for both parties. My business relies on our good reputation, and this situation, as unfortunate as it is, definitely negatively impacted my business,” says Mamie Taylor’s owner Ron Oliver. “Mamie Taylor’s has always been known for great food and good drinks and good times. That’s what we’re here to deliver again, just like we always have. An unfortunate oversight by somebody who was renting space from us shouldn’t dictate the quality of what we do here.”

The restaurant Crab Park Chowdery is allowed to remain open because inspectors didn’t find rodent issues at that location.

NEWS 1130 has reached out to the owner of the Chowdery for comment.

Vancouver Coastal Health inspects the kitchen where the soup was prepared

Carrie Stefanson with Vancouver Coastal Health explains what happened after they learned of the rat found in soup.

“As a result of a complaint about a rodent at the Crab Park Chowdery, VCH inspectors went to the location where the soup was prepared, which is a kitchen in the basement of Mamie Taylor’s restaurant,” she said. “As a result of that, the restaurant was closed. Inspectors have gone through the restaurant again, and the restaurant has been re-opened, but the commercial kitchen in the bottom portion of the restaurant remains closed.

“Our understanding, is that the bottom portion of the restaurant was used as a commissary, which is a commercial kitchen for other restaurant purposes,” she says, adding “there was evidence of rodents in the basement portion.”

– With files from Taran Parmar