Florida Hungry Howies Pizzeria Shut Down After State Inspection

Photo byWheredonutsgo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Research firm TOP Agency has asserted that Florida's favorite pizza chain is Papa John's. Still, Florida offers plenty of chains for Floridians to choose from, including Pizza Hut, Marco's, Little Caesar's, and Hungry Howies. Unfortunately, one store of the latter - in Casselberry - was recently temporarily closed after a state inspection.

About Hungry Howie's: This chain has been around for 50 years and is probably best known for its flavored crusts and specials. It has over 500 stores in the United States, with 193 of them being in Florida.

The location in question at 430 SR 436, Suite 103, earns mixed reviews - 3.7 out of 5 stars on Google reviews. Many people note issues with incorrect orders and customer service. However, one person noticed cleanliness issues. A reviewer named Christina wrote, in part:

"...The food was good but when I went to the restroom, I realized there was no toilet paper...Then the toilet would not flush at all and when I went to wash my hands, the sink didn't work, either. Then I realized that the bathroom did not have any running water. No, there was no out-of-order sign on the door. This left me scared and wondering if there was running water in the kitchen!"

What Happened At Inspection?: According to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an inspection occurred on September 19, 2024. At that time, 11 violations were noted.

Basic violations occurred for a missing ceiling tile, damage to a wall, the observation of dead roaches on the premises, surfaces "soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust," and unwashed vegetables stored with ready-to-eat food.

An intermediate violation came because of a basting brush with a "metal band and duct tape used in oil" and a dough rolling machine covered with food and debris.

High-priority violations were noted for the observation of live roaches and a spray hose in the three-compartment sink.

Because of some of the above violations, the restaurant was temporarily shut down.

After two follow-up inspections on September 20th, the restaurant had four violations, but none were considered an immediate violation to the public, so the restaurant "met inspection standards" and was free to reopen.

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