UPDATE: Jerseys owner says 'staff safety' prompted closure

Jerseys is closing one of its Cedar Rapids locations. The restaurant and bar announced on Facebook Saturday afternoon that it is closing the Jerseys Downtown location.

"We have learned through this process that even the best of intentions have dire consequences. We want to thank you for the past 5 years of support. Its been a roller coaster of ups and downs for sure and we are happy to have done it," the Facebook post read.

The post went on to say Jerseys Downtown could possibly reopen "when conditions improve."

The owner of Jerseys contacted KCRG-TV9 Saturday afternoon and said he's shutting the location down over safety concerns for his staff following heightened tensions between those employees and staff at neighboring restaurant Harold's Chicken.

The owner declined to go into further detail.

The owner of Harold's Chicken told TV9 the closure "has nothing to do" with his business. He said that he wishes Jerseys "nothing but the best" but alleged the closure was due to health code violations.

KCRG is reaching out to Linn County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals for confirmation.

A KCRG I9 investigation discovered food inspectors at Jerseys reported eight violations at the 1st Street NE location during a visit in 2015. Its sister restaurant, Jerseys Pub & Grub, had 18 violations during an inspection at its C Street SW location in 2016.

Jerseys owner said food safety had nothing to do with the closure. He said inspectors visited Friday and gave the downtown location a clean bill of health.

The most recent report from health inspectors is not yet available online.

The closure only affects Jerseys Downtown. Jerseys Pub & Grub will remain open.