Health dept. shuts historic Village club

Greenwich Village's historic folk rock club The Back Fence has been shut by city health officials after investigators cited the establishment for 69 code violations including evidence of roaches, mice and a "sewage system in disrepair," officials said yesterday.

Although the club does not serve food, it was also cited over the weekend for raw and uncooked food violations.

Chanel Caraway, a department spokeswoman, said in an email "beverages are considered food and bars must have a permit and maintain good sanitary conditions."

Caraway said The Back Fence must provide "required document[s] indicating that these violations have been corrected," in order for another inspection to be scheduled and the club reopened.

Yesterday, staff at the family business, which was at one time the seminal haunt of a generation of beat poets, Allen Ginsberg among them, were busy scrubbing behind the bar, the backrooms and the club's restroom.

Owner Ernest Seinto said he hopes to be open this weekend with live music, but said the inspection was "done all wrong" by the health department.

"The inspector came in Saturday afternoon and was going through the place for a couple of hours. It really wasn't fair how he did it," said Seinto, who was forced to close the bar at 155 Bleecker St. immediately after the inspection.

Seinto said he was working to correct the code violations.

"I'm trying to reschedule another inspection so I can open the place up. This is my family business," Seinto said. "It's a very sentimental place for me. The musicians here and their music is what draws people in."

Supporters of the longtime haven for artists and musicians said they will do whatever it takes to assist Seinto's efforts to reopen the club.