Flying Insects, Mold, and Foul Odors Lead to Florida Popeye’s Closure

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In Florida, finding delicious fried chicken isn’t too difficult, especially with a variety of mom-and-pop shops and fast food chains serving up this Southern favorite. But sometimes, not every spot meets the mark when it comes to cleanliness and safety. Recently, a Popeyes location at 5950 Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park made headlines for all the wrong reasons after it was temporarily shut down following a state inspection.

What Happened During the Inspection?

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducted an inspection of this Popeyes on August 14, 2024, and the results were far from favorable. The inspectors noted a total of 16 violations.

Among the basic violations were issues like a microwave covered in food debris, water leaking from a ceiling vent near the front counter, food being improperly stored under dripping water, and mold-like substances found on gaskets in the walk-in freezer. The inspectors also reported "objectionable odors" coming from the bathroom, adding to the list of concerns.

Intermediate violations were noted as well, such as the handwash sink being inaccessible to employees and soda nozzles showing signs of a mold-like substance.

Perhaps the most concerning were the high-priority violations, which included the presence of live, flying insects inside the restaurant.

Given the severity of some of these issues, the restaurant was temporarily shut down. However, after two follow-up inspections on August 15, 2024, the situation had improved. While six violations remained, none were considered an immediate threat to public health, allowing the restaurant to meet inspection standards and reopen its doors.

This incident serves as a reminder that even well-loved chains need to stay vigilant about cleanliness and food safety to keep serving their customers without interruption.