A Calgary business owner says he is taking a reputational hit after his donair shop was named in a closure order by Alberta’s health department meant for a different restaurant. A notice of closure by Alberta Health Services (AHS) was served to Hossan Donair Grill and Kabab in Bridlewood in recent weeks, alleging several violations regarding live mice and rodent damage. In the subject line of the notice, AHS lists Donair Grill, an establishment in Mahogany that is about 17 kilometres away. “For something like that to happen and impact us negatively, it’s really disheartening,” said owner Fonzy Haymour. “The health inspector failed to report the proper name on the closure notice.” Haymour says customers vanished after the notice began circulating online — even though his shop wasn’t the problem and never closed. Haymour previously owned the Hossan Donair Grill and Kabab until last August, when he sold the business. It was still named Donair Grill until June. In a statement to CTV News, AHS said it is a business’s responsibility to notify Environmental Public Health when a restaurant’s ownership or name changes. “In this case, the business name had changed approximately one month prior to the inspection, and this was not communicated to EPH,” AHS said. “The closure order was issued to the correct business location, and the correct owner and was based on the findings in the inspection,” the statement continued. Once it was aware of the name change, AHS says it updates its records and corrected the public documentation reissuing the closure order and related inspection reports. The department did not acknowledge the name confusion to CTV News, however emails between Haymour and AHS shows an AHS staffer saying “we sincerely apologize for any impact this error may have had on your business.” Haymour is seeking a public retraction, which AHS has denied. “(There’s been a) dip in sales…in our walk in traffic, our online sales.” Haymour said. “It’s definitely in the thousands.” He says AHS should have more accountability. “The health inspector at the time said she walks into a bunch of businesses, doesn’t really look up to see the name, and it’s just kind of walking into the business,” Haymour said. “I can understand that. But at the same time, they got to do their due diligence.” Bob Sumner, a communications and media consultant, agrees that a public retraction would go along to help the business. He also encourages Haymour to try and get ahead the issue. “Getting really active on social (media) and your (CTV) story is probably going to help a little bit just for the name differential,” Sumner said. He also adds this is a good example for when business changes hands to distance the entity from the new owners. “It’s prudent to have the company change the name because you don’t know what their integrity is,” he said. CTV News visited the establishment served with the notice of closure, Hossan Donair Grill and Kabab, but staff declined to comment. The business appeared to be back open and operating.
