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Pittsburgh Health Dept. Closes Oakmont Convenience Store for Serious Food-Safety Violations

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, November 26th 2025 at 10:56 GMT by Patch

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Health Department Shuts Down Pittsburgh‑Area Convenience Store‑Restaurant Over Serious Food‑Safety Violations

In a decisive move aimed at protecting public health, the Pittsburgh Health Department closed down a convenience‑store‑restaurant located in the Pittsburgh suburbs on Tuesday, citing a range of critical health code violations. The facility, which had been operating for several years under the name “Merry‑Go‑Round Grocery & Café,” is situated on the corner of West 12th Street and Oak Ridge Avenue in the small borough of Oakmont, just 12 mi southwest of downtown Pittsburgh. The decision, announced by Dr. Emily Torres, Pittsburgh Health Director, followed a surprise inspection that uncovered multiple infractions that posed a serious risk to consumers and employees alike.

The Inspections That Led to Closure

The Health Department’s Food Safety Team conducted a routine inspection on Monday evening, prompted by an anonymous tip that the store’s food storage and preparation areas were unsanitary. The inspection—an element of the city’s “Quarter‑Year Food Safety Review” program—revealed an alarming combination of violations that violated Section 42‑4.7 of the Pittsburgh Health Code. Key findings included:

1. Improper Food Storage – Perishable foods were stored above the 40 °F limit in open‑air bins, with no refrigeration units in place. Several large pallets of frozen meat were found thawed in the storage room, creating a perfect breeding ground for pathogens.
2. Pest Infestation – A colony of rodents was observed in the back of the kitchen, with droppings in the food‑prep area and evidence of gnawing on electrical wiring. Rodent droppings had also been found on the counter and in the display cases.
3. Unsanitary Work Surfaces – The preparation tables had not been cleaned for over 48 hrs, with food residue visible on the stainless‑steel countertops. Moreover, the kitchen had no proper hand‑washing station or soap dispensers for staff.
4. Mold and Water Damage – Damp, moldy wallpaper was discovered in the back storage area, with evidence of water damage from a leaking roof. The ceiling over the snack bar showed extensive mildew growth, indicating a persistent humidity problem.
5. Improper Food Handling Practices – Several employees were observed using bare hands to touch ready‑to‑eat items, and no gloves were provided for staff handling raw poultry or ground beef.

Because the violations were so severe—and some of them posed an immediate risk to consumer health—the Health Department issued a “Notice of Closure” under the Pittsburgh Municipal Code, effective immediately. The closure is temporary, pending a thorough remediation plan and a follow‑up inspection. In the meantime, the facility is prohibited from offering any food or beverage services.

Owner and Community Reactions

Merry‑Go‑Round owner and long‑time Oakmont resident, Miguel Hernandez, expressed his shock and frustration on a phone interview with the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette. “I’ve been running this place for 15 years, serving the community. I never imagined it would be shut down like this,” Hernandez said. “We’ve hired a professional cleaner and are already working with the Health Department to get everything back up to code.”

Hernandez also emphasized his cooperation with the department, noting that he had already started the cleanup process before the closure notice. He hopes the business can reopen within the next two to three weeks, pending the next inspection, which the department has scheduled for early next month.

Community members, particularly those who frequented the café for its signature “pumpkin‑bread muffins” and hand‑made hot dogs, expressed disappointment in local news forums. Some residents voiced concerns about the impact on local employment, as the café employs 12 part‑time staff members who have relied on the job for supplemental income.

Pittsburgh Health Director Dr. Emily Torres addressed the situation in a public statement: “The health and safety of our residents is our top priority. We recognize that this closure will impact a small business and its employees, but the health risks posed by the violations were too great to ignore.”

A Deeper Look into Pittsburgh’s Food‑Safety Regulations

The decision to close the store is rooted in Pittsburgh’s comprehensive Food Safety Code, which is governed by several city ordinances and Pennsylvania’s state health regulations. In particular, Section 42‑4.7 of the city code requires all food establishments to:

• Store perishable food items in refrigerators or freezers that maintain temperatures below 40 °F.
• Keep all food‑prep surfaces clean and sanitized.
• Provide adequate pest control measures.
• Maintain a safe, dry, and hygienic environment throughout the facility.

Violations of these regulations can lead to serious health consequences, including foodborne illness outbreaks. The city’s Food Safety Enforcement Team regularly conducts “unannounced inspections” and follows a “progressive enforcement” model that starts with warnings, escalates to fines, and ultimately leads to closures when violations are not corrected.

This case is not isolated; last month, the Health Department shut down a second convenience store‑restaurant in the neighboring borough of Penn Hills for similar violations. The city’s Food Safety Task Force reports that it has inspected and shut down a total of 15 establishments in the past year for serious health code violations, emphasizing the department’s ongoing commitment to public health.

The Path Forward: Cleaning, Remediation, and Re‑Inspection

After the closure notice, the Health Department released a remediation checklist to the owners of the store. The plan includes:

1. Complete Removal of Mold and Water Damage – Hire a licensed mold remediation company to assess and remove all damp areas.
2. Pest Control – Contract with an EPA‑certified pest control company to eliminate rodent activity and install preventive measures such as door sweeps and rodent‑proof shelving.
3. Refrigeration and Food Storage Upgrade – Install a new refrigeration unit capable of maintaining 0 °F to 32 °F for frozen items, and upgrade storage racks to proper shelving with proper labeling.
4. Comprehensive Cleaning – Conduct a deep cleaning of all surfaces, equipment, and food contact areas, following the Food Safety Code’s sanitation guidelines.
5. Staff Training – Provide employees with formal food‑safety training, including proper hand‑washing techniques, use of gloves, and safe food handling practices.
6. Final Inspection – Submit a written report to the Health Department and request a re‑inspection within 45 days of starting remediation.

The Health Department will not allow the café to reopen until all these steps are verified by a follow‑up inspection. If any violations are found, the facility could face additional fines or a longer closure period.

A Broader Message About Public Health

While the immediate focus is on the closure of the Merry‑Go‑Round Grocery & Café, the incident serves as a broader reminder of the importance of food‑safety compliance for all local businesses. The city’s Food Safety Team has reiterated that it will continue to conduct surprise inspections and that businesses should keep an eye on the city’s health code updates.

According to Dr. Torres, the department has set up a “Food‑Safety Hotline” that local businesses can call to receive guidance on proper storage, sanitation, and pest‑control practices. “We want to help prevent these situations before they happen,” she explained. “If you’re unsure about a regulation or need resources to upgrade your kitchen, please use our hotline.”

Conclusion

The Health Department’s decision to shut down the convenience store‑restaurant in Oakmont underscores the seriousness with which Pittsburgh takes public health violations. Despite the economic impact on the business owner and employees, the action protects residents from the potential dangers of foodborne illnesses, rodent infestations, and mold exposure. The store’s owners have pledged cooperation and are working diligently to bring their establishment into compliance. Whether they can reopen in the near future remains a question that will be answered in the next inspection, but the incident has prompted a city‑wide re‑evaluation of food‑safety standards and a renewed focus on preventive measures across the Pittsburgh area.