Florida Popeye's Shut Down After State Inspection - 16 Violations

Photo byPhillip Pessar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One could argue that it isn't too difficult to find good fried chicken in Florida if you don't want to take the trouble to make it yourself. Most mom-and-pop and restaurant chains serve it. And in many cases, you don't even need to exit your car if you opt for a fast food option. Unfortunately, one of Florida's fast-food chicken joints, a Popeye's in Pinellas Park, was recently temporarily shut down after a state inspection.

About Popeyes: This is a somewhat vintage chain that opened in 1972 in New Orleans, which is why it's not a coincidence that it features Cajun and Creole flavors. Recently, it has gained attention for its massive, buttery, chicken sandwiches. Florida has around 235 Popeyes locations.

The location in question at 5950 Park Boulevard gets mixed reviews, earning 3.4 out of 5 stars on Google reviews. Much of the complaints have to do with wait times and customer service.

However, a reviewer with the handle AMNR 3 mentioned cleanliness and wrote, in part:

"...The place is filthy and the people just don’t care at all. The manager is a horrible example. They had completely changed our order because they ran out of basically everything...And if they tell you to pull into a parking spot, you’re doomed. Waste of time and money."

What Happened At Inspection?: According to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an inspection occurred on August 14, 2024. At that time, 16 violations were noted.

Examples of basic violations were a microwave being soiled with food debris, water leaking from a ceiling vent into the front counter area where employees were serving customers, food being stored under dripping water, a mold-like substance on gaskets in the walk-in freezer, and "objectionable odors" in a bathroom.

Intermediate violations came because the handwash sink was not accessible to employees at all times and soda nozzles were soiled with a "mold-like substance."

An example of a high-priority violation was for the observation of live, flying insects.

As a result of some of the above violations, the restaurant was temporarily shut down. After two follow-up inspections on August 15, 2024, the restaurant was left with six violations, but none were considered an immediate threat to the public, and the restaurant "met inspection standards" and was free to reopen.

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