Rodents have been dropping by eateries
DOWNTOWN SM Making like Stewart Little, several thousand mice are causing some major problems for eateries in the Bayside District.
Operations in seven downtown restaurants were temporarily halted late last month after Los Angeles County public health inspectors discovered mice droppings. It remains unclear if the droppings are a result of a recent mice outbreak in Downtown Santa Monica or is part of a larger, ongoing problem.
The mice dung was discovered during routine restaurant inspections between March 22-29 at Acadie Hand Crafted French Crepe and Light House Buffet, on Arizona Avenue; Harvelle’s Blues Club and Three on Fourth, both on Fourth Street; Akwa, on Fifth Street; Ice N’ Cream, in Santa Monica Place mall; and Johnny Rocket’s on the Third Street Promenade.
Each of the restaurants were closed due to “rodent infestation/harborage,” according to the Department of Public Health Web site listing all county businesses that have been shut down since Jan. 11.
“It’s immediate closure if we do assess there is rodent infestation,” said Maris Stella, the senior environmental health specialist III at the Department of Public Health.
The county’s Vector Program recently conducted an investigation of the rodent problem on the promenade and concluded it’s an ongoing problem that can be traced to the areas behind the buildings along the strip of businesses on Third Street.
“We are still trying to find out if there is any cause,” Stella said of the recent activities in Santa Monica restaurants. “At this point, we don’t know what the source is.”
Johnny Rocket’s was shut down after public health officials received an anonymous complaint. An inspector headed into the restaurant on March 28 after discovering rodent droppings near planters outside.
“The Johnny Rocket’s restaurant on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica has addressed all of the matters raised by the Los Angeles County public health department,” said Mimi Somerman, senior vice president of marketing for The Johnny Rockets Group, Inc. “We want to reiterate our commitment to our guests and the high-quality standards we are known for.”
Asian restaurant Akwa was among the first to be hit by the problem after health inspectors discovered mice droppings and shut down the restaurant from March 22-24, according to the Department of Public Health Web site. The general manager for the restaurant declined to comment.
Many of the restaurants were closed for about 48 hours, with the exception of Acadie, Johnny Rocket’s and Light House Buffet, which were closed from three to five days, according to the county Web site.
The closure of Acadie was upsetting to its owner, Thierry Boisson, who hires a private inspector to survey the restaurant for rodent activity every month. In fact, the private inspector had checked the restaurant about an hour before the county inspector arrived and discovered the mice droppings behind the counter and in the basement, Boisson said.
“I didn’t see any mouse in the restaurant,” Boisson said. “These people act like the whole problem is on us.”
The owners of the Light House Buffet, a Japanese restaurant near Second Street, subsequently discovered several holes from where the rodents could have entered.An employee, who asked not to be identified, said the problem was fixed immediately. The discovery of mice droppings in at least one of the eateries has been ruled an isolated incident.
Inspectors found rodent activity at Ice N’ Cream in Santa Monica Place on March 28, immediately shutting down the ice cream store until March 30.
“The health department did come back and provide the A rating again,” said Ashley Walkley, marketing manager for Santa Monica Place.
Manager Miguel Rojas said the problem did not affect the food supply at Ice N’ Cream since all of its perishable inventory is stocked in freezers or refrigerators.
The droppings might date back to the previous business that occupied the space, Walker said. The mall also sends out its own inspectors to check restaurants on a regular basis to ensure they are complying with health regulations.
“It was something that was overlooked when the tenants had changed out,” Walker said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 13, 2007. Read the original PDF.