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PINELLAS PARK, FL -- "Unfortunately in the summer months, these german roaches were bad," Bill Church explained.
Church opened Quaker Steak and Lube on 49th street in Pinellas Park five-years ago.
In August, the motor sports-themed restaurant was temporarily closed because of a roach infestation.
"The health department here in the state of Florida says if you can see one insect, they can shut you down," Church said.
But it wasn't just one insect. State inspectors found over three dozen live and dead roaches in the soap dispenser,
the service area, the bar area, near the drive-thru window, by the coolers, in the dining room, on the wall near the dish machine, and in the basket at the server's station.
"A few of those areas we have a difference of opinion on," Church said.
Regardless, Church says he immediately took action.
"We had this new company come in anyway because the old company was just not doing their job. We feel like we got this problem licked at this point," Church said.
But over the last two-years, inspectors documented 49 critical violations. As recent as August, inspectors found boxes of chicken stored on the floor and employees using their barehands on ready to eat food.
Church explained, "We had one employee who was seen scooping some french fries without the scoop."
During our visit, we did notice employees wearing gloves, the kitchen seemed clean, and their wing buffet was constantly maintained.
"We're good about correcting them and we've always been in good compliance with things the health department has found," Church said.
But outside the restaurant, we saw a few things some inspectors might consider to be violations. We noticed trash in an open trailer right outside the kitchen door, weeds
over-grown around the restaurant, a dumpster left open, and water leaking out of the building with no drainage system. All can attract bugs and rodents.
However, Church assured me, he is committed to keeping the place up to code.
"We've got good food and it's a good place to eat and we want people to come in," Church said.
