A local restaurant in business nearly 40 years was temporarily shuttered by the Pima County Health Department for what inspectors called “imminent health hazards.”
Szechuan Omei, 2601 E. Speedway, has had troubles with the health department over the last year, failing multiple inspections in May, October, November, December and February.
The Feb. 29 inspection resulted in the health department issuing the restaurant a provisional license, after the inspector saw employees touching their faces and raw food before resuming food preparation without washing their hands. Six other critical violations were noted, including a used cigarette butt and a bottle of auto transmission fluid found inside the dry storage area.
Under a provisional license, restaurants are subject to more frequent inspections, and one critical violation results in a rating of “fail.” Under normal permit status, it takes five critical violations to earn a “fail.”
On a March 4 followup for the restaurant’s provisional status, the inspector observed seven critical violations, including evidence of a rodent infestation.
“Due to the imminent health hazards, the facility has agreed to close,” inspector Shelby Cavillo wrote in the report. “Approval from the (health) department must be obtained before operations resume.”
During the inspection, Cavillo noted handwashing violations and rodent droppings on food storage areas and food preparation equipment.
Cavillo returned to reinspect Szechuan Omei on March 24, and with three critical violations, the restaurant failed again.
Pots, pans, utensils and refrigerator walls and racks were encrusted with food debris, and rodent droppings were observed throughout the facility, according to the inspection report.
Szechuan Omei failed an April 4 reinspection, and has another follow-up scheduled for next week.
The restaurant opened in the late 1970s and was owned and operated by Magdalene Gerrish until she sold the restaurant in 2000.
Szechuan Omei had consistently “good” and “excellent” ratings with the health department until 2015.
An employee who would not give his name said the restaurant’s owner was not available for comment. He said the restaurant was allowed to reopen about two weeks ago, despite the failed inspections after it was shut down, which the health department confirmed.
