Discarded cigarette butts, roaches, dead mouse close Newark deli

Discarded cigarette butts, live and dead roaches and a heavy buildup of dust and dirt at Brookside Country Maid Deli forced the state health department last week to temporarily close the Newark store.

The Division of Public Health received a complaint on Nov. 15 that a person saw a "dead roach and a live roach" in the 63 Marrows Road business, according to an inspection report. The live roach was seen near a hot grill food preparation area.

An inspector who visited on Nov. 19 ordered the business closed after observing "gross unsanitary conditions and an imminent health hazard," the report said. After reinspection, the business was allowed to reopen Monday.

An employee who answered the phone Tuesday afternoon said she was not aware of the store being forced to close. A message left for an owner or manager was not immediately returned.

According to the inspection report, floors throughout the eatery had "heavy food and dirt debris build up." The area underneath the equipment was "extremely dirty" and parts of the flooring were missing.

There also was buildup of dirt, dust, trash and cigarette butts under some shelving. The inspector observed multiple holes in the business' walls and ceilings as well as a dead mouse in the front corner of the store.

Live and dead roaches were found throughout the establishment, the report said, and a half-smoked cigarette was on the ledge of a kitchen coat rack. 

An owner told the inspector that Western Pest Services services the business every two weeks, the report said. But the last invoice provided was from Oct. 23.

The inspector also noted that no kitchen employees were wearing hair restraints. 

When a health inspector returned to the eatery for a reinspection on Nov. 21, the official did not find any pests, but the "cleanliness of the floors and underneath and behind equipment was not sufficient," the report said. 

There were still multiple holes in the walls and ceilings and the hot water at the only hand sink was not working. The inspector ordered to restaurant closed until Nov. 26 for a second inspection.

The restaurant was allowed to reopen on Nov. 26 after a state official inspected the facility. 

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Lestardo's Crab House temporarily closed after inspector finds mouse droppings in kitchen

The News Journal has been requesting inspection reports for restaurants and food establishments from the state Division of Public Health since this past summer.

The state has not been posting updated restaurant and food establishment inspections on its website since May 2017 because it's upgrading an antiquated computer system. The new system is supposed to be available by the end of the year.

In 2018, The News Journal has learned, at least 43 businesses have been closed temporarily for various health code violations.

Gooey Donuts in Milton and Tutto Fresco, a longtime Italian restaurant in Penny Hill, both closed permanently two months after failing health inspections.

The only way the public can read health inspection reports is by asking for them from the state or requesting the latest copy at a restaurant or food establishment. 

Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 324-2386 or mnewman@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @MereNewman. Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico