Alberta Health Services inspectors have shut down three eateries in the food court of north Calgary’s Sunridge Mall after the discovery of cockroaches and other unsanitary conditions.
The closure notices issued to Edo Japan, Opa of Greece and the Famous Wok report all three had a “significant cockroach infestation” with both “dead and live cockroaches in various life cycles.”
The report said the owners of the three food stalls were also unable to provide written records of pest control measures for inspectors to examine.
AHS said the spaces were also not clean.
The inspection reports for both Edo and OPA, dated Feb. 6, also noted a build-up of grease and food debris on the walls and floors of the two eateries, in violation of food preparation and handling regulations.
The inspection report of Famous Wok, detailed a long list of problems.
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Not only did inspectors discover “a significant cockroach infestation,” but the floor and walls of the walk-in cooler were also “covered with bloody juices” from meats being stored inside.
Other violations at Famous Wok included:
- Partially frozen meats and other food items that were stored improperly and/or without proper temperature controls
- Dishes that weren’t being properly sanitized
- A buildup of dust, debris and grime
- Wastewater that wasn’t being properly disposed of
- A lack of hand washing stations
- Structural damage to shelves, ceiling tiles, flooring, appliances
- Inadequate lighting
All three restaurants were ordered to close immediately and they won’t be allowed to reopen until they have been thoroughly cleaned, repairs have been made, a pest control company has been hired to eradicate the cockroaches and a future pest management plan has been developed.
When contacted by Global News to ask about the closure, Dorrie Karras, CEO of OPA, said the infestation issues are beyond the company’s control.
In a written statement, Karras said the mall manages the pest control program and it’s “something that should have been escalated, when identified with another tenant in the past.”
Karras’ statement continued by saying “when informed of the infestation on February 6th, we immediately stopped all operations and are working with Sunridge Mall, AHS, our franchisee and the mall-appointed pest control company to manage the situation, take all appropriate pest control measures and sanitize everything from top to bottom.
“We will not reopen this location until all health and safety protocols have been met and exceeded.”
Edo Japan also sent a statement to Global News that said it “is deeply committed to upholding the highest health and safety standards, and we take all inspection findings seriously.”
Edo added “this was an isolated incident,” and said it “is being treated with the utmost importance.”
As of publishing, the owner of Famous Wok had not provided a response.
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