MASON CITY – The Other Place restaurant in downtown Mason City has apparently closed its doors.
The restaurant, located at 125 1st Street SE, is not open and a sign is hung in each of the front doors, which says, “The Other Place is closed for business effective June 11, 2012. Thank you for your patronage in Mason City for the last 23 years.”
A call to the Cedar Falls OP and two other OP restaurants yielded no further information; in fact, they were surprised to hear of the closing.
A Budweiser van was parked on 1st Street with a two-wheeled loader resting against the building, and several persons in cars rolled up to check on the signs on the door; one had an “OP” shirt on. No one would comment. A truck with a moving trailer was also parked on First Street today, just outside the main doors.
With the recent opening of several new eateries and bars in the downtown area, it is not surprising that one or more new or established businesses would close. The Mason City Other Place has had its challenges, as indicated from a December 2010 health department public notice:
The Other Place (Mason City)
A complaint was called into our office concerning 8 out of 16 people became sick after they had eaten on December 10, 2010 around 8:00 pm. at the OP in Mason City. Foods eaten, but not limited to pizza, chicken strips, nacho’s etc. A list of employee’s working was received during this inspection. No employee’s had been sick that the manager was aware of. The establishment has numerous violations and is excessively dirty. This department was told that this facility would be remodeled for the last several years and to date nothing has been done to the prep area. Remodeling and correcting structual problems must be scheduled within 30 days and written corrections must be mailed or faxed to our office. The facility must have an extensive cleaning done by 9:00 am on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 or the facility will be closed until cleaning is complete. Ryan Fiser was present during the inspection on Monday, December 13, 2010 and was told he must have the cleaning done and violations corrected by 9:00 am on December 15, 2010.
Complaint Inspection on 12/13/2010, from 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM by Fullerton, Dixie
Re-check Inspection on 12/15/2010, from 9:45 AM to 11:30 AM by Fullerton, Dixie: Remodeling and correcting structual problems must be scheduled within 30 days and written corrections must be mailed or faxed to our office. Nice job of cleaning and correcting violations, the facility must remain clean at all times and the construction issues must be fixed.
More information as it becomes available.
12 thoughts on “Mason City OP Restaurant has Closed”
Never had a problem with the food loved the pizza and the taco sub
Very Sorry to see the OP close!!! Many good times there! It was a great place for receptions and parties or just to grab a sandwich and a beer and watch a ball game and the location was great! I hope they will re-open or another sports bar will go in it’s place.
Having the MCPD keep walking through your business and eyeball everyone enjoying themselves, cant help either.
busting minors, fining bartenders and bars, and public intox busts are a great revenue stream for the PD. Catching dangerous criminals that aren’t all at the same place, not as big Return On Investment of time.
Pray tell, which laws should Mason City Police Department ignore? Please supply a list to Chief Lashbrook.
And by the way, supply the name of your liability insurance carrier to the bar owners so that when enforcement stops, and something happens, your insurance will cover it.
Thanks.
Just goes the show the mcpd is more worried about making a buck then anything
We were there for one on Wednesday but they were in the middle of closing (10pm). I agree about the waitstaff. The waitress we had was all cracked out.
This is a bummer…I know myself and a lot of my friends earned a wealth of great stories at the OP. Sad to see it get bad mouthed too. But hey, to each there own. I hope OP regains her former glory, and that all the folks that kept her running bounce back from such a sudden loss.
people can be mean, i wasnt trying to be mean. i just really dont care for onion rings.
Not a surprise. Didn’t matter if you were in a big group or just a couple, the food took way to long to get to your table. Some of the wait staff weren’t playing with a full deck either.
they had the best food i loved their combo platter minus the onion rings
Guess that “best of the best” designation BS didnt pan out too well for them, eh?