A pizzeria in southwest Ocala was forced to temporarily close its doors for a second time this year after another failed food inspection.
J Rocks Pizzeria, which is located at 2606 SW 19th Avenue Road (Suite 103), was temporarily shut down on Monday, June 14, for a few hours after a health inspector found a total of ten violations. Among the issues cited during the routine food inspection were two high priority and a collection of basic and intermediate violations.
The two high priority violations cited the presence of rodent feces and “live, small flying insects” in the kitchen, food preparation, and food storage areas.
The food inspection report classified the rodent activity violation as a “repeat violation,” making reference to a previous failed food inspection from earlier this year. During that visit on March 30, the health inspector also found ten violations, including finding a over 100 rodent droppings under a prep table and chemical shelf.
Ocala pizza eatery shut down after health inspector finds piles of rodent droppings
In addition to the two high priority violations during the June 14 inspection, the restaurant had to address five additional basic violations and three intermediate violations before it was permitted to reopen. The intermediate violations included a buildup of a “mold-like substance” on the ice chute for the self-service drink machine, as well as food temperature control issues.
The restaurant was closed just before noon and permitted to reopen just after 4 p.m on the same day, according to the report from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.