UNIVERSITY VILLAGE — Health officials shut down a Jewel Osco grocery store after it failed a health inspection for a rodent infestation earlier this week in University Village.
On Tuesday, the Chicago Department of Public Health closed the Jewel-Osco at 1220 S. Ashland Ave. after finding more than 500 mice droppings on shelving, floors and “live mice activities,” according to the city report.
The store was cleared to reopen Thursday, Chicago Department of Health officials said.
Health officials “worked with Jewel to ensure sanitary and healthy conditions conditions are in place,” a spokesperson for the department said.
During the inspection, a mouse was seen running from a watermelon display case to a hot holding station. Health officials also found six baby mice nesting behind a large chip display, where an additional 200 mice droppings were found on the floor and wall ledge.
The report noted food packages “gnawed on by rodents” as well as mice droppings on floors, shelves, display cases, and a walk-in deli cooler.
Thirty fruit flies were also found in the bakery area, as well as in the restrooms, the report noted.
In an email, Jewel-Osco spokeswoman Mary Frances Trucco apologized for the inconvenience.
“The company was working with the Chicago Department of Public Health to rectify the situation,” she said.