Jimmy's of Bridgeville temporarily shut down due to mold in ice machine, lack of handwashing
Editor's note: An earlier version had an incorrect name for the restaurant. It's Jimmy's of Bridgeville. The article was updated on Dec. 8.
Iconic diner Jimmy's of Bridgeville was shut down by the health department this week for violations including employees mixing coleslaw with bare hands, mold in an ice machine, outdated milk and a general buildup of grease and dust.
The 18541 S. Main St. restaurant was forced to close due to imminent health hazards and gross, unsanitary conditions, according to a routine inspection conducted Tuesday.
A health department spokesman said Friday the restaurant was allowed to reopen.
The owner could not be reached for comment.
Jimmy's, a 300-seat eatery near the intersection of U.S. 13 and Del. 404, has been a Bridgeville landmark since 1993.
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It's known for its home-style cooking and generous portions. Popular menu items includes chicken-and-dumplings, fried chicken and pies.
The eatery is named for founder and former owner Jimmy Tennefoss, who sold the business in 2006 to Highway One Companies. Tennefoss died in 2013. Highway One Companies sold the Bridgeville restaurant this past summer.
As part of the sale, new owners were not allowed to call it "Jimmy's Grille" or use the words "grille," according to Alex Pires of Highway One Companies. He said there is no connection or involvement between the owners of "Jimmy's Grille" and "Jimmy's of Bridgeville".
A health inspector Tuesday observed Jimmy's of Bridgeville employees not washing their hands before putting on gloves and a "heavy" amount of mold and mildew debris in the ice machine.
There were also no labels with dates on "potentially hazardous foods," the report said. Uncovered food also was found throughout the facility.
Raw eggs were stored over "ready to eat foods," and several foods — including bacon, butter, eggs, potatoes and French toast — were not at the correct temperature, the inspector wrote.
Hoods and ducts had a "heavy build-up of grease, food debris and dust."
When a health inspector followed up Wednesday, the official found that "large quantities of food and milk was outdated," the report said. The official also found live and dead roaches in the eatery.
The inspector said in the report that there is "no demonstration of food safety knowledge." The official wrote that there was a discussion about hand washing with the staff and that the contaminated coleslaw was thrown out.
The business was fined $100 for a re-assessment fee, the report said.
The News Journal has learned at least 45 businesses have been forced to close temporarily for various health code violations, including some shut down immediately due to imminent health hazards and gross, unsanitary conditions.
Gooey Donuts in Milton and Tutto Fresco, a longtime Italian restaurant in Penny Hill, both closed permanently two months after failing health inspections.
Delawareans won't be able to view details of recent health inspection reports online for a "couple of months," health officials said this week. The Division of Public health planned to update its website by the end of 2018, but now February is the new targeted month.
The department has updated its current inspection website, though officials say it is a "transitional solution."
The web page looks similar to the hard-to-read older version. While it tells when a food establishment was inspected and if it was a routine- or complaint-provoked inspection and what code the establishment violated, it offers no further explanations.
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.