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Spicy Moon inspected for food permit at 45-04 Pearson Street in Queens

Spicy Moon inspected for food permit at 45-04 Pearson Street in Queens

Built World New York, NY local

Vegan chain's pre-permit check scored 12 points, in A-grade range, at a storefront last run by Han Dynasty

6 days ago: Spicy Moon pre-permit inspection

Overview

Updated 40 minutes ago

Spicy Moon, a vegan restaurant brand, went through a New York City health inspection on September 22, 2026, for a food service permit at 45-04 Pearson Street in Queens. The storefront previously operated as Han Dynasty, a Chinese restaurant chain last inspected there in May 2025.

The pre-permit inspection is the first gate before the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) issues a food service permit. It found two violations and scored 12 points—not an approval, but within the range that generally earns an A once the restaurant starts operating.

Why it matters

Whether this Long Island City storefront opens as a Spicy Moon vegan restaurant depends on the health permit outcome.

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Key Indicators

12
Pre-permit inspection score
Penalty points; scores up to 13 generally qualify for an A grade.
2
Violations cited
One critical and one non-critical violation on September 22, 2026.
2025-05-10
Previous tenant's last inspection
Han Dynasty was last inspected at this address roughly 16 months before Spicy Moon's pre-permit check.

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

May 2025 September 2026

2 events Latest: 6 days ago
  1. Spicy Moon pre-permit inspection

    Latest Inspection

    New York City health department conducted a pre-permit inspection for Spicy Moon's food service permit, scoring 12 points with 2 violations.

  2. Han Dynasty's last inspection at the address

    Inspection

    City health records show Han Dynasty was last inspected at 45-04 Pearson Street in Queens.

Scenarios

1

Permit issued, Spicy Moon opens in Long Island City

Likely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Typical NYC permitting process for pre-permit scores in the A range

Spicy Moon resolves the cited violations, receives its food service permit, and opens at 45-04 Pearson Street. The 12-point score puts it in the range that generally earns an A, so the permit step is expected to proceed if violations are cleared promptly.

2

Reinspection needed, opening delayed

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Standard process when a critical violation is cited

A critical violation on the pre-permit inspection requires follow-up. If Spicy Moon cannot correct it quickly, the city schedules a reinspection, delaying the permit and the opening date beyond the initial timeline.

3

Spicy Moon drops the location

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Occasional outcome when a chain abandons a permit application

Spicy Moon does not complete the permitting process, and the address returns to the market or is leased to another tenant. This is the least common outcome given the promising inspection score, but permit applications do lapse.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2006-2019

Han Dynasty's Northeast expansion (2006-2019)

Han Dynasty, the group that previously ran this address, grew from a single Philadelphia-area restaurant into a chain with locations across the northeastern United States.

Then

The chain established a regional footprint and a following for its Chinese cuisine.

Now

Its presence in New York opened space for other concepts to take over its former locations.

Why this matters now

The transition from Han Dynasty to Spicy Moon mirrors how regional chains expand and contract, with new concepts moving into vacated storefronts.

2015-2020

By Chloe's expansion and collapse (2015-2020)

Plant-based restaurant chain By Chloe grew quickly after its founding, adding New York locations and expanding into other cities. Internal legal disputes followed, and multiple locations closed by 2020.

Then

The brand shrank and went through legal turmoil despite strong early demand.

Now

Showed that vegan restaurant growth can stall quickly even after a promising start.

Why this matters now

Spicy Moon's expansion into a former Han Dynasty space fits the pattern of plant-based chains opening new locations—growth is real, but it is not a guarantee of endurance.

Sources

(2)

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