Florida Wendy's Shut Down After State Inspection

Photo byCalgary Reviews from Calgary, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Floridians who want to eat quick food on the cheap have plenty of fast food options. I've written about how plenty of fast-food joints in Florida are currently offering value meals - some of which are under $5. Unfortunately, a store location of one of the chains in that list, a Wendy's in Miami, was recently temporarily shut down after a state inspection.

About Wendy's In Florida: This is a vintage chain, having opened way back in 1969 in Ohio. Wendy's burgers claim to be fresh and never frozen, and they are known for their square shape.

According to Franchise Help, 77% of all Wendy's stores are franchised. And around 521 of those restaurants are in Florida.

The location in question, located at 13901 S Dixie Highway, earns 3.9 out of 5 stars on Google reviews. Some reviewers were complimentary, but others complained about customer service and cleanliness. A reviewer named Craig wrote, in part:

"Dirtiest Wendy's I've ever seen. This is not the first time I've seen this place looking like a dump...The food is usually served lukewarm if lucky. Forget customer service! Employees...have an attitude and no training. My guess is the turnover is too fast to get anyone trained. I'm done giving my business to Wendy's."

What Happened At Inspection?: According to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an inspection occurred on September 3, 2024. At that time 6 violations were noted.

Basic violations came from rust in the ice machine, a door broken on a walk-in freezer, heavy dust behind monitors, and for a sanitizing solution not being at proper strength.

High-priority violations came for dozens of flying insects observed at various locations throughout the restaurant, and a live insect inside of a box of cinnamon buns (which resulted in a stop-sale order.)

As a result of some of the above violations, the restaurant was temporarily shut down.

At a follow-up inspection on September 4, 2024, there were no violations remaining and the eatery "met inspection standards" and was free to reopen.

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