In Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the renowned Jewish restaurant Katz’s Deli recently reached a settlement with federal prosecutors for failing to provide accessible facilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The restaurant agreed to pay a $20,000 fine and make improvements to its facilities.
Katz’s Deli, located near Chinatown at 205 East Houston St, has a history of over a century and gained significant fame due to its appearance in the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally…”. However, the restaurant was accused by the Southern District of New York federal prosecutor’s office of violating ADA regulations.
Prosecutors stated that Katz’s Deli’s main entrance was not accessible to people with disabilities and did not offer enough dining space for them. Despite a renovation of the restrooms in 2018, they still did not meet ADA requirements. The restaurant reached a settlement agreement with prosecutors on December 30, agreeing to pay the $20,000 fine and improve facilities for persons with disabilities, including a renovation of the male and female restrooms.
The agreement between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Katz’s also marked the conclusion of the 13-year “Manhattan Restaurants ADA Compliance Initiative”. This initiative, based on the 2011 edition of the Zagat restaurant guide’s ratings, inspected and enforced accessible facilities in the 50 most popular restaurants in Manhattan. Chinatown restaurants are often targeted for not meeting ADA standards due to their old buildings, leading to lawsuits by individuals with disabilities and even intentional litigation by litigious individuals seeking compensation.