A Sonic Drive-In in St. Johns County, FL, was temporarily closed for 14 violations; it reopened

Sonic Drive-In meal.Photo byCanva / Graphix

Sonic Drive-In, located in Saint Johns, St. Johns County, FL, faced a temporary closure due to a series of violations identified during inspections by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

Initially, on July 30, inspectors documented 14 infractions, prompting an emergency order for closure. These included high-priority concerns such as the presence of insects and improper storage of raw animal foods with ready-to-eat items in the freezer.

The presence of live, small flying insects in critical areas like the kitchen and food storage zones was particularly notable.

According to the inspection report, a follow-up review on July 31 saw a reduced number of violations to two, yet the facility remained closed as the callback review did not meet compliance standards.

By August 1, the situation had not improved, requiring a further extension for corrective action. It was not until August 2 that the restaurant successfully addressed all issues, allowing it to resume operations.

The initial inspection revealed a range of issues, from high-priority to basic violations. Noteworthy high-priority violations included over 100 larvae found in grout lines near the ice and ice cream machines, and raw chicken tenders stored wrongly over ready-to-eat foods.

Basic violations included mold-like substances in the ice machine, standing water due to missing grout, and grease accumulation around the dumpster area. Repeat violations were noted for soiled floors and nonfood-contact surfaces, as well as unwashed produce stored with ready-to-eat foods.

NOTE: Please note that an inspection report, per the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, provides a snapshot of the conditions observed during the inspection.