Grocery store reopens 1 day after health officials shut it down over mice droppings

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A steady stream of cars and carts returned to a north side grocery store Wednesday. One day earlier, the Milwaukee Health Department ordered the store to close after inspectors found evidence of mice in several different areas.

The health department ordered the Pick 'n Save at N. 35th St. and W. North Ave. to close on Tuesday following an inspection. A city report noted mice droppings in "prep areas, back storage areas, pharmacy, register areas."

Theo Carney, a math teacher at the nearby Milwaukee College Prep school, said he goes to the store almost every day to get snacks either for himself or his sons.

"I just found out today. I was on my way here, and one of my coworkers said, 'You know the store is closed?' I was like, 'Are you serious?'" he said. "That was a surprise to me. I was shocked."

By Wednesday afternoon, however, the store had reopened. Caroline Reinwald, a spokesperson for the health department, said inspectors returned Wednesday and found store workers had addressed the most serious issues.

"In this case, all food preparation areas were cleaned and MHD inspectors did not discover any new pest activity while they were on site," Reinwald said in a statement.

A second report included an "intent to cease operations" if additional issues were not addressed. Those problems included food debris found on the floor of the walk-in freezer and "evidence of rodents" in the store's online order area. The health department is set to return next Tuesday for another inspection.

A reinspection report from the Milwaukee Health Department outlines issues the Pick 'n Save at 35th and North needs to address by April 23.

Hommie Banks, Jr. rested up against a fence across the street from the store Wednesday afternoon. He said he walks to the store often for essentials like bread and meat. As someone who doesn't have a car and doesn't move particularly well, Banks said he was relieved the store wasn't closed for long.

"I'm glad whatever it took for them to get opened back up, I'm glad they did it right away," Banks, Jr. said. "Because I have a hard time getting around."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the store's parent company, Roundy's, said they take health and safety concerns seriously.

"We appreciate the collaboration and support of the City of Milwaukee Health Department as we addressed the isolated incident," the statement read.

Carney said he was taken aback by the closure because he'd never felt anything was off when shopping at the store. He echoed a belief the community needed the store. An online review found it's the only full supermarket in the area bordered by W. Center Street to the north, W. Lisbon Ave. to the south, N. 27th St. to the east and Sherman Blvd. to the south.

"From what I see every day at the store, it seems pretty clean," Carney said. "But you never know until you actually go inside and see it physically for yourself."