BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A popular Mexican restaurant in the southwest was forced to shut their doors Thursday, after four people were sickened with salmonella poisoning. Two of them remain hospitalized.

The Kern County health department says Don Perico may be the common denominator in these illnesses.

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Bakersfield Restaurant Closed Due To 4 Salmonella Infections

The sign posted on the restaurant's front doors says the restaurant is remodeling, but the health department says they're the ones who closed the doors. "There had been some past examples of significant violations," said Matt Constantine with the Health Department. "We have worked through them, we have allowed them to stay open. But in this case because of the potential health risk we took immediate action."

The owner, Gabino Trujillo Diaz was visibly upset about the closure, and told ABC23 he is using the down time to remodel the kitchen. Our cameras saw new equipment was being dropped off.

Diaz said he is complying with the health department while they test his food, but he doesn't think the victims were sickened here. "Yeah, but how do you know they got it from here?" Diaz asked. "They're going to make sure. They checked the food already, to compare if they're coming from here or not. That's it. But they don't know when they're coming from where."

Customers kept stopping by for dinner and say they were startled to hear the news, even though the contamination hasn't been confirmed here just yet. "I mean, those things happen in different places sometimes," said frequent customer Shelley Kennemer. "And they'll get it taken care of, and they'll make it safe before they open it up again."

"If it was a false scare I would definitely be back," said frequent customer Laura Palomino. "Without it, I guess, if the health inspectors, since they'll be out here, they'll definitely be watching things. So I would trust, because I love the restaurant and the service so much. But still it's scary, none the same it's scary."