COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Three restaurants in Collier County were forced to temporarily close in January after state inspectors found numerous violations - including live roaches and rodent droppings - in their kitchens and food preparation areas.
According to reports from Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the first of the restaurant closings happened January 14 at El Rincon de Mexico on East Tamiami Trail. Inspectors reported finding, among other violations, twenty to twenty-five rodent droppings in a dry storage area.
The next restaurant forced to close temporarily was Taqueria San Julian on Bayshore Drive. On January 24, inspectors reported three high-priority violations, including food kept at unsafe temperatures and up to sixty dried rodent droppings in a stove.
"I think you'll find something everywhere, so it does not concern me," said Taqueria San Julian customer Kathy Mitchell. "I'm pretty sure they must have cleaned it up."
At the Subway in the Coastland Center Mall's food court the next day, inspectors reported two hig-priority violations: ten live roaches next to the food preparation table, and sewage backing up through the floor drains in the sandwich-making area.
All three restaurants were able to re-open the next day after correcting the violations.
Fox 4 called Taqueria San Julian and El Rincon de Mexico, but were unable to reach their owners for comment. Subway did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
