Letter grades actually boost revenues at the cleanest restaurants, said Jessica Scaperotti, a city health department spokeswoman. According to a UCLA study, grade-A restaurants in Los Angeles saw a 6 percent increase in revenue compared to before the introduction of grade cards.
The two main changes proposed for the food inspection process in New York City are the mandatory posting of letter grades, expected in July 2010, and more inspections for restaurants that receive lower scores. Currently, restaurants are inspected once a year. Under the new system, restaurants receiving an A will still be inspected once a year, those with a B twice a year, and those with a C three times a year. At the time of each visit, the health inspector will immediately issue a new letter grade, to be displayed in the window of the store.
This immediate judgment is a bone of contention for the New York State Restaurant Association. The lobbying group for restaurant owners recently began negotiating with the city to limit which violations would contribute to a lower grade, said Andrew Rigie, director of operations at the association’s New York City chapter. For instance, if a restaurant fails to have a permit displayed properly, it shouldn’t be docked from an A to a B, said Rigie.
“In this time when fewer people may be eating out,” he said, “a sign that may deter any customer to any type of restaurant is definitely a concern.”
Back at The Islands, Siobhan Letchford isn’t too concerned. She immigrated from Jamaica eight years ago and has steadily built a clientele since then. “It won’t affect my customers who have been with me for years."
