One of the most emblematic sandwiches stores in Los Angeles closed last week after health inspectors cited a food infestation among other infractions, but representatives of Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery, home of the famous godmother sandwich, let's say no rodents were found, contrary to multiple reports.
A representative of the Los Angeles County Health Department confirmed to the times that the suspension of the permit was due to a cockroach infestation. “The vermin closures are consistently the number one reason for a suspension of the permit,” they said in an email.
Bay Cities celebrated his centenary this year, for a long time a destination for Italian specialized products and their sandwiches of meats and cheeses of imported and national delicatessen stacked in fresh baked bread every day. But on May 21, Santa Monica's culinary milestone was forced to close, and remains temporarily closed. The routine inspection of the Department of Public Health of Los Angeles County found an important violation related to the presence of “rodents, insects, birds or animals.”
The organization lists this violation as a “critical risk factor” in its online guide for restaurants.
Among the import operation of Bay Cities and its Delicatessen, the Department of Health reported 14 violations. The inspections also cited infractions related to their floors, walls, ceilings, food surfaces, food storage, unsafe equipment and “adequate cold and cold maintenance temperatures” (another important violation).
The representatives of Sandwich Shop and Market could not be contacted to comment, but they published a public statement on Tuesday that addresses both the closure and what they say is the misinformation with respect to the findings of the inspection.
“We are actively working with the Health Department and third -party professionals to address all problems and make significant improvements in our operations,” says the statement, which was published in the Bay Cities Instagram account. “We also believe that it is important to address erroneous information that has circulated online and in the selected media. Specifically, some reports have affirmed that rodents were found on the site, this is false and is not included in the official report of the Department of Health. While we completely recognize the legitimate violations mentioned, we also believe in transparency and we want to guarantee that our community receives precise information.”
The inspection criteria of the Health Department group rodents with insects, animals and birds; A representative of the Department of Health told the Times that “the infestations of the actions are defined as an imminent danger to health.”
Delicatesity remains indefinitely closed until its reinstation. “We are doing the job to make it better,” said the restaurant's public statement.
A hearing held on Wednesday will determine whether Bay Cities's permit will be revoked, and not only suspended, because the permission of the installation has been suspended twice in a year. An inspection of September 2024 found great violations of the rules for clean and adequate hands, the proper use of gloves and contact services of clean and disinfected foods. A warning of the audience decision will be issued within five days.
The closures due to the results of the health inspection are common. According to public documents, in May of 60 restaurants, markets and other food and beverage operations were closed by the Los Angeles County Health Department. Almost 50 of these, including the cities of the bay, list the “infestation of the vermin” as the reason.
