Apologetic restaurateur meant “no harm”

After an emotional statement on his part, Yousef Mefleh received warm applause at the start of a Westminster city council meeting.  Mefleh, a city councilman and the owner-operator of a mainstay city restaurant, delivered an apologetic statement in which he made clear he meant no harm to anyone in his adopted city of 38 years and would welcome the chance to speak to anyone who might think his business had done wrong.  There has been a buildup of public opinion in support of a seemingly tireless restaurateur who leaves his business at 10 o’clock at night and is back at 4:30 the next morning—sometimes feeling that he has been away for one week.  Yousef’s restaurant has been in the crosshairs of the city building official as well as the state for a food and sanitation inspector’s visit on Monday.  Judging by the outpouring of support, the dining public remains committed to Yousef’s.  An example being the restaurant was packed with diners early last night, at the same time Councilman Mefleh and his colleagues started a special council meeting a few blocks away.