Owner of NYC Subs given 30 days to obtain Certificate of Use or cease operations at Seaway Drive

A Fort Pierce special magistrate ordered the owner of NYC Subs at 835 Seaway Drive Unit 4 to obtain a required Certificate of Use within 30 days or cease business operations, with a $250-per-day fine and possible suspension of utilities if the permit is not issued.

The magistrate’s order followed testimony from the property owner, John Grzan, who said he was unaware a Certificate of Use was required, but had already applied and was arranging inspections. The city moved its photographic evidence into the record and noted Grzan had submitted an application for the certificate.

Grzan told the magistrate he had been working with the city clerk and had scheduled a building inspection; he said the fire inspection was scheduled and expected to pass. “I wanna be in compliance. I wanna have a, a certified safe restaurant,” Grzan said. The magistrate allowed 30 days for the owner to obtain the certificate; if he does not, the order requires cessation of business activity at the location and subjects the owner to fines of $250 per day under city ordinance section 22-28. The magistrate also confirmed utilities could be suspended if the owner fails to comply after the 30-day period.

The matter appears in the record as case CE2025-143. The city accepted photos dated February 26, and staff said Grzan had submitted the fire inspection documentation and an application to the clerk’s office. The magistrate noted the owner’s cooperation and the pending inspections in granting the 30-day compliance period and reminded Grzan that he has 30 days to appeal any final order.

The order does not suspend utilities immediately; utilities would be suspended only if the owner fails to obtain the Certificate of Use within the ordered timeframe and the city moves to enforce the penalties in the ordinance.