Philly health dept. slams Bliss, Copa Banana, CVS, Save-a-lot
Bliss, Copabanana, a CVS store, and a Save-a-lot supermarket were among the two dozen food establishments issued cease and desist orders by the Philadelphia health department in the last two weeks.
Bliss, Copa Banana, a CVS store, and a Save-a-lot supermarket were among the two dozen food establishments issued cease and desist orders by the Philadelphia health department in the last two weeks.
A week after it was cited, Bliss, an American bistro on the 200 block of South Broad Street, announced it was closing permanently. In a deal long in the works, Eagles tight end Brent Celek and two partners will take over the lease and launch a Korean-inspired eatery set to open in April.
The health department asked Copabanana/Hurricane, at 4th and South Streets, to temporarily close after an inspector noted 17 health code violations, 10 of them considered serious. The restaurant - which shares a license with its adjacent bistro, Redwood - has been inspected eight times during the last year, amassing a total of 111 infractions. Calls seeking comment were not immediately returned.
Save A Lot #276, a Port Richmond supermarket, was ordered to close Feb. 24 after an inspector found rat feces and "visible evidence of insect or rodent contaminated foods in the retail area." The market remained closed Friday.
The CVS #2689, at 7350 Oxford Ave. in the city's Fox Chase neighborhood, was closed Feb. 16 after it was cited for "severe rodent infestation." Store management called pest control and reopened next day.
A list of businesses issued cease and desist orders since Feb. 10 follows with selected violations:
Save A Lot #276
3801 ARAMINGO AVE 19137
11 violations, 1 serious
Visible evidence of insect or rodent contaminated foods in the retail area; rat feces observed in some retail areas (including the chips and dog/cat food section); areas of chewed wall and shelving, chewed bags of chips, dog/cat food, and cereal in the retail area. Issued cease and desist Feb. 24.
Tejada Food Market
1800 N 26TH ST 19121
16 violations, 3 serious
No hot water; uncovered rolls on top of freezer; inadequate refrigeration; "Inspector was unable to inspect restroom due to shared common quarters. A tenant was in restroom the entire inspection." Issued cease and desist Feb. 24.
Snyder Supermarket
2700 SNYDER AVE 19145
29 violations, 10 serious
Lack of hot water. Hot water was restored and business reopened. Inspector also cited the market for mouse droppings on food equipment and inside ice machine; lack of handwash sink in ice cream prep area; improper handwashing procedures; raw chicken stored above beverages; uncovered food in walk-in freezer and cooler; equipment not clean to sight and touch: work tables, prep tables, microwave, sandwich prep unit, deli case, meat slicer, can opener, gaskets on doors; deli meats and cheese at unsafe temperatures; unclean toilet room surfaces. Issued cease and desist Feb. 24.
Dunkin Donuts
117 S 16TH ST 19102
6 violations, 2 serious.
Insects (fruit flies) in the donut display case; garbage disposal not operating; empty paper towel dispenser. Issued cease and desist Feb. 23.
Copabanana/Hurricane
342 SOUTH ST 19147
17 violations, 10 serious
Previous cease and desists issued 2/17/2015 and 1/11/2011.
No chemical sanitizer used on utensils and the food contact surfaces prior to inspection; towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the kitchen area; dented can of jalapeno peppers & artichoke hearts; black residue on the interior of the ice machine; spinach dip and octopus being held at unsafe temperatures; chemicals stored with food items; damaged floor/wall covering throughout the kitchen area and 2nd floor bar area. Issued cease and desist Feb. 22.
Bliss Restaurant
220 S BROAD ST 19102
26 violations, 10 serious
No hot water at wait station; burns observed on chef's forearm; no soap at handwash sink; uncovered food in refrigerator and freezer; mouse droppings; ice machine and pantry equipment not clean. Issued cease and desist Feb. 18. Previous cease and desist issued 6/27/2013. Restaurant announced Feb. 25 it would close permanently.
CVS #2689
7350 OXFORD AVE 19111
9 violations, 1 serious
"Severe rodent infestation." Inspector found "gnawed food items on shelves" and "heavy accumulations of rodent feces on shelves." Issued cease and desist Feb. 16. Reopened Feb. 17.
Chun Hing
4160 MONUMENT RD 19131
40 violations, 11 serious
Employees observed touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands; handwashing frequency inadequate; soap not available at handwash sink; person in charge lacked knowledge of Pa. food code. Issued cease and desist Feb. 16. Reopened Feb. 18.
China King Restaurant
2936 N. 22ND, 19132
20 violations, 4 serious
No towels at prep area handwash sink; raw meat stored above sauces; mouse droppings on food prep surfaces, shelving and food prep table. Issued cease and desist Feb. 12.
J and J Fresh Donut World
4004 MARKET ST 19104
19 violations, 4 serious
Food employee observed eating a sandwich in the food prep area; no hot water; employees not wearing hair restraints; general cleaning needed. Issued cease and desist Feb. 12.
Rockoz
6171 TORRESDALE AVE 19135
15 violations, 3 serious
No hot water; mouse droppings in bar counter area; drain line not in good repair; food safety person lacked photo ID. Issued cease and desist Feb. 11. Reinspected Feb 14.
Ming Wang
4165 GERMANTOWN AVE 19140
17 violations, 4 serious
Mouse infestation, droppings found throughout restaurant; uncovered foods in chest freezer and refrigerator; containers of food stored in warewash sink. Issued cease and desist Feb. 10.
This story was updated Feb. 29 to correct the spelling of the name Copabanana.