LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Tip Top Child Development Center was closed in June of 2019 after the Southern Nevada Health District reported 62 violations in a nine page report.
Some of those violations included a childcare provider changing multiple diapers without washing her hands and multiple dirty toys around the facility.
At the time, 13 Action News spoke to co-owner Gina Sferra, who said after the report was published she worked to correct every mistake that was made.
RELATED: Childcare facility shut down for violations up for re-inspection
The Southern Nevada Health District reported that on Aug. 22, Tip Top was officially in compliance and open for business.
Despite the turnaround, co-owner Mike Tarantino said they lost 60% of their business so they were unable to financially recover from the shutdown, causing them to close their doors for good as of Sept. 3.
Sferra said the business is her life and she’s heartbroken to have let her employees and families down.
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“I’m really sorry to all the parents that this displaced. I feel horrible because this is something I set out to provide for the families of Las Vegas,” said Sferra.
She said Tarantino handles the finances so she, like her employees and families, was blindsided by the closure.
“I wasn’t aware that it was coming. I knew things were tight, I knew we were struggling, I knew we needed to get enrollment up but I did not know that we were on the verge of closing,” said Sferra.
Sferra said they will be donating all of the supplies to a local organization. She says she still wants to stay in the childcare industry but she doesn’t know what her next steps will be.
“I’m not sure but everything happens for a reason and God has a plan and it’s better than mine so I just have to follow that,” said Sferra.
