Cockroach infestation shuts down San Francisco Popeyes

San Francisco Department of Public Health shut down Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on Divisadero St. on Tuesday for having "major violations" that were an "immediate danger to public health or safety." San Francisco Department of Public Health shut down Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on Divisadero St. on Tuesday for having "major violations" that were an "immediate danger to public health or safety." Photo: Photo By Kevin Y. On Yelp Photo: Photo By Kevin Y. On Yelp Image 1 of / 68 Caption Close Cockroach infestation shuts down San Francisco Popeyes 1 / 68 Back to Gallery

Regulars looking to order Southern-style chicken at Popeyes on Divisadero St. in San Francisco were turned away on Tuesday morning after the San Francisco Department of Public Health shut down the restaurant due to “major violations.”

“It was closed yesterday after a routine inspection,” said Veronica Vien, a public information officer at the Department of Public Health. “They determined that they had a cockroach infestation and the permit has been temporarily suspended.”

A notice of closure posted on the store’s window didn’t explicitly state the violation but noted that the business located at 599 Divisadero St. had major violations that constituted an “immediate danger to public health or safety.”

A health score was not shared on the notice, but it stated that the store would remain closed until further notice. SFGATE visited the store location and determined that it was still closed Wednesday afternoon.

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Vien explained that when the Department of Public Health closes a business, the owners or restaurant operators need to correct the issues marked by health inspectors on the initial visit. Once fixed, the business can alert health inspectors that the issue or issues have been resolved. At that point, health inspectors will make a second visit with the intention to lift the suspension.

According to San Francisco’s Food Safety Program, food violations can fall under three categories that range from low to high risk.

Low-risk violations are those that have no immediate risk to public health and safety, while high-risk violations can include transmission of food-borne illnesses, adulterated food products and contaminated food-contact surfaces.

If you need to make a complaint to the Department of Public Health, diners can call 311.

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Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE producer. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3