Roaches close Secret Garden Cafe in Jacksonville Beach

This week five restaurants were temporarily shut down for violations ranging from pest control issues to operating with an expired restaurant license.

Action News Jax visited Secret Garden Café in Jacksonville Beach. An inspector saw 18 live roaches, 17 dead roaches, and expired diced ham in a fridge. It was temporarily closed, but allowed to re-open after two follow up inspections.

ActionNewsJax spoke to the owner who showed us around the kitchen. She says the back delivery door that had a gap at the bottom has been fixed.

A manager says after the health inspection, the restaurant immediately called pest control who fumigated the restaurant that same day.

“The Family here at Secret Garden took that extra time to do some more deep cleaning so that we could reopen. We value our customers and we take pride in our restaurant,” said a manager.

At Captain Melo’s on Touchton Road, a health inspector counted 39 live roaches, 5 dead roaches, and the restaurant was operating with an expired license. Captain Melo’s closed overnight, but was allowed to re-open after two follow up inspections.

At The Back 40 Urban Café in St. Augustine, a health inspector counted 11 live roaches, 28 dead roaches, and issued a stop sale on seven items including salsa, cheese, and lettuce because of temperature issues. It was closed and allowed to re-open after two inspections.

At Woody’s Bar-b-q in MacClenny, a health inspector noted 8-9 live flies in the kitchen, 11 live roaches, and noted expired okra and tomato in the fridge.  Woody’s BBQ was temporarily closed and re-opened during a follow up inspection.

At Adams Street Deli and Grill, an inspector counted 12 dead roaches, 2 live flies in the kitchen, and it was operating with an expired restaurant license.  Adams Street Deli and Grill was temporarily closed and re-opened during a follow up inspection.

Cox Media Group