After reading about the temporary closure of a food court restaurant at the Paddock Mall due to dead rats, an Ocala resident shared video showing a dead roach mixed into a meal he purchased at the same restaurant just weeks ago.
The customer, Bryan Gomez, contacted Ocala-News.com after reading recent coverage regarding two health inspection failures at the mall.
According to Gomez, the incident occurred on May 16, while he was eating a takeout meal purchased from Pei Wei Express, located within the food court at the mall (3100 SW College Road).
Gomez captured video footage of a large, dead roach coated in sauce sitting inside the styrofoam container directly next to a portion of mushrooms and meat.
In the background of the footage, the ordering counter, digital menu boards, and red signage of the Pei Wei location inside the mall food court are clearly visible.
Gomez says that he reported the issue to the Florida Department of Professional Regulation, but that he “never heard about it” afterwards.
On Tuesday, July 7, the same restaurant was temporarily forced to halt operations after a health inspector discovered two dead rodents on a sticky pad on a shelf beneath the front counter.
Pizza Per-Bellini, a neighboring restaurant in the food court, was also shut down after an inspector uncovered three dead rodents on sticky pads beneath the front counter and a kitchen ice machine.
The mall’s dining area has faced similar sanitation challenges in the past, including multiple temporary closures of other food court vendor spaces in late 2023 due to violations involving roaches and rodent droppings.
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