Is Munchie's Open For Business?

appears to be open again for business, even though city and state records give a conflicting picture of the bar's operational status.

City records show Munchie's has a 2012 business tax receipt as a bar and that it went out of business in January, according to City of Largo spokesperson Brandon Graham.

The city's community development department received a complaint from community members that the bar has re-opened. But the bar would need to obtain a valid business tax receipt, and Code Enforcement will follow up, Graham wrote in an email.

According to the city, there's also an open code violation at the strip center for using a portion of the building next to the bar without a certificate of occupancy in March. The power meter was pulled from that area, Graham said.

State records, meanwhile, show the business has an active retail beverage license. There are no active complaints on the state online record.

State records show the restaurant has an active food service license and was inspected most recently in August. That routine food inspection showed several violations, which were corrected on the spot. The "critical" violations included: no sanitizer on site, manager lacked proof of food manager certification and no proof of required employee training was provided, according to state records.

Munchie's Manager Quincy Owens said the bar reopened under new management in July. The new owners repainted the bar, completely redid the kitchen, brought "everything up to code" and added juke boxes, he said.

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Owens said he was not aware of any violations or business license issues. He said the bar is not affiliated with the closed former laundromat next door.

The bar's front door contains a taped sign stating no drugs are allowed. Owens said he wants the public to know they "do not tolerate any drugs at all," he said.

Owens welcomed the public to come check out the new Munchie's. He said they have dancing including reggae and salsa music on Friday nights until 3 a.m. The bar and grill is open 3:30 p.m. until midnight daily, he said.