Firefly To Shutter Permanently as Victim Tally Hits 200

Firefly restaurant owner John Simmons will permanently close his Paradise Road restaurant after the number of victims impacted by the salmonella outbreak at Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar has reached 200. The newly released data comes from the Southern Nevada Health District.

KVVU-TV quotes a statement from Simmons explaining he will reboot his eastside operation at the former Z-Tejas and Mr. B's Bar & Grill space at 3824 Paradise Road. As first revealed by Eater Vegas, Simmons had been constructing the space as the fourth restaurant under his control.

The Associated Press first reported the SNHD's new findings, revealing a victim count more than double from the 90 guests and staff previously thought impacted by a yet unidentified source of the bacterial disease.

The discrepancy is an indication of the difficulty in tracking a broad spectrum of local and visiting customers. The AP notes that those reporting illnesses live in 20 different states and two foreign countries.

Firefly has been closed since the initial April 26 SNHD inspection and remains shuttered. The chain's two other restaurants are open for business and the company's Facebook page is thanking customers at those locations for their support with a promotion "to enjoy half off sangria for a limited time" and "a free order of our Bacon Wrapped Dates!"

UPDATE: Firefly reports on Facebook that the new location at 3824 Paradise Road should open at the end of May.
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