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The Real Housewives of New York City alum Bethenny Frankel has always been an entrepreneur.
In her latest venture, Bethenny, 55, opened Supermodel Café, a pop-up restaurant in the Hamptons serving her protein-packed and lower-calorie takes on comfort food.
Unfortunately, right after it opened, the spot was served with a stop-work warning.
“Today’s Supermodel Café launch drew an extraordinary turnout, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from the community,” a representative for Bethenny told Us Weekly in a statement on Thursday, August 13. “The café received a yellow notice labeled ‘Warning Stop Work Order’ following concerns surrounding the unusually high volume of launch-day attendees.”
“The team is working cooperatively with local officials and taking the appropriate steps to address those concerns,” the statement continued. “The notice does not require the café to close, and there is no anticipated disruption to business. The café will operate during its regular daily hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.”
According to the outlet, over 700 people showed up to the opening of Bethenny’s latest venture, and the chicken salad was the first item to sell out.
Newsday spoke with Southampton Town Public Safety and Emergency Management Administrator Ryan Murphy.
He told the paper that, “We’re also going to be issuing some violations and/or summonses from the Fire Marshal’s office as well for sidewalk obstructions and unpermitted signage too.”
Ryan also shared the notices were “already given” before Bethenny’s café opened.
“They failed to take corrective action,” he added.
The newspaper also divulged the stop-work order was posted on the shop’s window and noted that Bethenny’s team failed to comply with New York State and Southampton’s building code and town ordinances.
Bethenny took to TikTok to address the stop-work order.
“We got a stop-work order at the café, but we don’t have to stop work. Evidently, it’s about construction, but we’re not doing construction,” she said. “So, like I said, we are the Billy Joel of bagels, we play until we can’t play no more. But they’re letting us play.”