Why Lexington health department closed 2 restaurants in 2 months
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington health department closed two restaurants within two months.
- Subway at 360 Southland Dr. closed May 15 and reopened May 20.
- Mango Thai at Fayette Mall was shut June 22 and is expected to be reinspected today.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has closed two Lexington restaurants in two months.
According to the department, Mango Thai in Fayette Mall food court was shut down on June 22 for failing repeated inspections, as was the Subway on Southland Drive on May 15.
Restaurants are closed when the health department finds an imminent risk to public health, such as insect or rodent infestation, lack of running water or sewage contamination. Restaurants can also be closed if the establishment scores too low during an inspection.
Establishments that score below 60 on an inspection are closed immediately.
According to the health department, these were the first two closures since February, when two specialty groceries were closed in a month.
Mango Thai is expected to be reinspected later today and could reopen. Details on Mango Thai’s inspection will not be available until it reopens, according to the health department.
Fayette Mall did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the closure at its food court.
Subway has reopened, after scoring 95 on inspection despite recurring issues.
Why Subway on Southland was closed
According to the inspection report, the Subway at 360 Southland Dr. was closed on May 15 after an inspector noted multiple issues including no food manager on duty, no employee health reporting agreement available, no biohazard kit available, frozen meat set on table to thaw, box of cups stored on floor in back storage area, urinal in men’s restroom not flushing properly and leaking from handle, and floors, walls, ceilings in disrepair and with accumulation of soil in some areas.
The restaurant was allowed to reopen May 20, although many issues remain including a leak at the hand sink in back prep area, unclean restrooms, leak in men’s restroom and urinal not flushing properly and accumulation of soil in some areas of floors, walls and ceilings.
What happens when a restaurant is closed
When the health department closes a restaurant, a red sign is placed on the door to notify potential customers that food service has been halted. But the health department does not publicize that restaurants have been closed.
Restaurants must correct the issues to pass re-inspection before they can re-open.
