One of Wilkes-Barre’s most important eateries is getting jerked around by scammers and the city government…
Let’s start with what’s actually happening because this story has gotten messy.
The Burnt Norton, a café and pizza spot in downtown Wilkes-Barre, is now stuck in a code enforcement dispute that’s threatening its ability to operate. Owner Dez Sabecky says her kitchen ventilation system, a ventless hood, was installed, inspected, and approved. The city now says it isn’t compliant and that she needs a Type 1 hood system with fire suppression.
That change didn’t come before opening. It came months later, after inspections, after opening, after the business found its footing. And after this website declared it as one of the 10 best restaurants in Wilkes-Barre.
Now she can’t fully use her kitchen. Breakfast service has taken a hit. She says she’s losing about $4,000 a week.
The Wilkes-Barre community stepped up. People donated. Shared posts. Tried to help raise the roughly $15,000 needed to fix the problem.
Then came the twist.
An anonymous donor offered to cover everything. Believing it was legitimate, Sabecky returned those donations.
It wasn’t legitimate. The donor was fake. The proof was AI-generated.
And just like that, back to square one.
Why this is bullshit…
In theory, there’s a clean argument here: the city is enforcing code, and the restaurant isn’t compliant.
But that argument falls apart when you look at how this unfolded.
If the system was approved, inspected, and allowed to operate, and then later deemed a violation without a clear change, then the problem isn’t just the equipment.
It’s the process.
Supporters point to inspection records listing the hood with “no violation.” The owner says it’s the same system. The city says it doesn’t meet code.
Those things don’t line up. And when they don’t line up, the cost doesn’t hit the system. It hits the business.
That’s the runaround. That’s the frustration. That’s what makes this hard to defend.
And then, somehow, it got worse.
A scammer stepped in, offered a solution, and wasted time the business didn’t have.
Like I said…this is bullshit.
How can you help?
Go to The Burnt Norton. Order something. Tell your friends. Bring people with you.
Because if places like this matter, and they do, we have to show up for them.
