**Fall River Inspectional Services Responds to Lizzie Borden Coffee Shop Confusion**
FALL RIVER ([WBSM](https://wbsm.com/fall-river-lizzie-borden-lawsuit-claims-refuted/)) — The Fall River Inspectional Services Department has addressed claims that one of its inspectors was “confused” by the opening of Miss Lizzie’s Coffee Shop next to the Lizzie Borden House and allegedly “demanded” answers.
This clarification comes as part of a legal brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals by attorneys for U.S. Ghost Adventures, the company that owns and operates the Lizzie Borden House. The company is seeking to overturn an October 2023 ruling by federal Judge Leo T. Sorokin, who [denied an injunction](https://wbsm.com/fall-river-miss-lizzies-coffee-keep-name-lizzie-borden-us-ghost-adventures/) against Miss Lizzie’s Coffee.
The two businesses have been at odds since the coffee shop opened in August 2023, right next to the infamous murder house. U.S. Ghost Adventures and its owner, Lance Zaal, have claimed that both customers and Fall River officials have been “confused” by the proximity of the two establishments.
According to a [Herald News](https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/2024/03/26/lizzie-borden-trademark-coffee-shop-fight-in-federal-appeals-court/73099878007/) report, U.S. Ghost Adventures’ Director of Operations, Josef Kruger, testified that on June 27, 2023, someone from Fall River’s Inspectional Services Department contacted him. Kruger claimed that the inspector “demanded to know what business the Lizzie Borden House was attempting to open next door,” mistakenly assuming the two businesses were related.
The inspector reportedly said, “The Lizzie Borden House can’t open up Miss Lizzie’s without informing us of these details,” and had to be informed that the businesses were not connected.
However, Brenda Beaudry, Project Specialist for Fall River’s Inspectional Services, clarified that the comment in the *Herald News* was “only partially true.” She explained that the inspector did not “demand” information but was merely seeking clarification.
Beaudry noted that Miss Lizzie’s Coffee is located near Fall River’s City Hall, so building inspectors and other city employees frequently passed by the site. They noticed a sign announcing the upcoming coffee shop, with brown paper covering the windows, which piqued their curiosity.
“As part of their job, inspectors are required to follow up with new businesses to ensure proper permitting, allowed use of the building, and certificates of occupancy,” Beaudry said. Since no contact information was posted on the building, the inspector’s first step was to reach out to the Lizzie Borden House to inquire if the businesses were affiliated. The manager on duty confirmed there was no connection.
Afterward, the inspector contacted the City’s food and milk inspectors from the Health Department, who had already been in touch with Miss Lizzie’s Coffee owner, Joe Pereira. The food and milk inspectors confirmed that no building permits were necessary since no structural changes were being made to the building.
Beaudry explained that Pereira had been cooperative and transparent, providing all necessary information about the coffee shop. Pereira had purchased the building in March 2023, obtained his business certificate on June 1, and planned to open without making any structural modifications.
“There were no significant issues,” Beaudry said. “It was just a matter of determining what the establishment was and whether any permits were required.”
She also mentioned that while the computer systems of different inspectional departments don’t automatically share information, the staff typically communicates with one another to ensure all necessary steps are taken.
For more details, listen to the full interview with Joe Pereira [here](https://townsquare.media/site/518/files/2024/03/attachment-Joe-Pereira-With-Tim-Weisberg-3-27-2024.mp3).
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Source: wbsm.com