Popular Florida Deli, TooJay's, Shut Down After State Inspection - 20 Violations

Photo byInfrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

91,201 New Yorkers moved to Florida in 2022 and it is a fair bet that some of them (as well as some Floridians) seek out authentic delis that remind them of home. I'd argue that Florida has some nice deli options, including Frankie's Deli Warehouse and Zinger's Deli, to name just a few options. Unfortunately, one Florida deli, TooJays in The Villages, was recently shut down after a state inspection.

About TooJay's: This Florida-based chain has over 20 Florida locations scattered throughout the state, but it had humble beginnings - starting out as a single restaurant in South Florida in 1981. The brand wanted to focus on traditional deli offerings as well as soups, salads, and decadent baked goods.

TooJay's is generally well-received in Florida. The location in question in the Villages at 1129 Canal Street earns 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google reviews. Many complimented the food, but some complained about wait times. A reviewer with the handle PK wrote:

"Great food - a taste of home for me since I grew up in Brooklyn. Pastrami was fantastic, potato salad and coleslaw were just like my great-grandmother used to make. My husband had egg salad. He loved it. We brought our leftovers home for a 2nd meal. Then we shared the Banana Dream dessert. That was good and worth every calorie."

What Happened At Inspection?: According to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an inspection occurred on July 24, 2024. At that time, 20 violations were noted.

Basic violations came for clean dishes being stored in a dirty drawer or rack, the cutting board no longer being cleanable, dead roaches, an employee with no beard guard, the accumulation of "black substance/grease/food debris" in the microwave, and soil residue in the reach-in cooler.

An intermediate violation came because the hand wash sink was not available to employees at all times.

Examples of high-priority violations were an employee touching their hair/face when engaging in food preparation, the observation of live roaches and live flying insects, and cold foods like cole slaw and burgers being held at over 41 degrees.

Because of some of the above violations, this Villages location of TooJay's was temporarily shut down.

After two follow-up inspections on July 25th, the eatery was finally able to reopen on July 26th when an additional inspection found 7 remaining violations. None of them were considered to be an immediate threat to the public, so the restaurant was free to reopen.

Please note that an inspection is one moment in time and not necessarily how a restaurant conducts itself every day.