POULSBO — Another local eatery has been claimed by a location that apparently fails to keep businesses for long.

Three Sisters Buffet, located near the corner of State Highway 305 and Lincoln Road recently closed.

Owner Tina Nguyen said that the restaurant, which opened about three months ago, was closed recently because she has put it up for sale due to “family problems.”

The location is the former site of Orca North, which closed there in December 2002. Orca North had been at the site for six years.

In its short history in Poulsbo, Three Sisters had struggled with a continuing health code violation.

Bonnie Halvorson, food program manager for the Kitsap County Health District, said in the restaurant’s first health inspection in September, improper hot hold of the fried chicken on the buffet line was found.

“That’s a red item violation,” Halvorson explained. “It’s a critical item because it could cause a foodborne illness.”

In October, the district also received complaints against the restaurant and went back to investigate. The second and most recent inspection turned up the same problem.

“At the time when we find a critical item, we have that corrected before we leave and then we do a reinspection within 14 days,” Halvorson said. “But it’s my understanding that the restaurant is closed now.”

Halvorson confirmed that the restaurant’s closing was not related to the health district’s inspection.

“There have been a lot of restaurants at that location. Sometimes it’s not an issue like this that closes a place. I don’t know what it is,” she added.

Nguyen said she was not made aware of any health code violations and that it was the family problem that closed the establishment.

“I don’t know how we could have any health code violations, we just opened in August,” Nguyen said. “I went in there and completely gutted the place to make it brand new.”

Halvorson said if and when a new owner takes over the restaurant, the health district would conduct an initial inspection of that establishment within 30 days of opening. Past violations would not be taken into consideration, even if the same restaurant remained in the location.

Despite the closure, the establishment is also under review by the State Department of Labor and Industries as well. Former employees have apparently filed disputes against Three Sisters claiming unpaid wages.

“One of our Industrial Relations Agents is currently looking into some claims that were filed against Three Sisters Buffet,” confirmed Lisa Pemberton, SCS Communications Manager and L&I Tribal Liaison for the Department of Labor and Industries by e-mail this week. “There are several issues that are being looked into, however, I can’t provide details on the investigation at this time.”

Pemberton added that regular wage claim investigations can take 45-60 days, while more complex matters can take three to six months to resolve.