County health inspectors shut down a restaurant in West Melbourne on Friday after discovering rodent activity and standing mop water during a routine inspection. The closure affects the establishment at 1234 Cocoa Avenue, which serves Italian cuisine. Health department officials said the findings pose a risk to public health and violate food safety regulations. The restaurant has been ordered to cease operations until it addresses the issues and passes a reinspection.
The health department issued a press release stating that inspectors found multiple rodent droppings near food storage areas and a puddle of mop water in a walk-in cooler. Both issues are considered critical violations under Florida's food safety code. 'These conditions create a direct threat to customers,' said Health Department spokesperson Maria Lopez. 'We take food safety violations seriously and will not hesitate to close establishments that fail to meet standards.'
The restaurant's owner, Antonio Ricci, declined to comment on the closure but said he would 'work closely with inspectors to resolve the issues.' Ricci has operated the restaurant for six years and has not had prior violations with the health department. Employees told reporters that the restaurant had recently undergone renovations and that the violations were unexpected.
The health department has scheduled a reinspection for next week. If the restaurant fails to correct the violations, it could face fines or extended closure. The establishment is currently serving takeout only while the owner works to comply with health codes. Neighbors said the restaurant was a popular spot for lunch but expressed concern over the safety issues. 'It's disappointing to see this happen,' said one customer. 'We hope they fix it quickly.'