Updated story: The Merc Co-op cleared to reopen all areas of store after shutdown due to roaches

The Merc Co-op in Lawrence was shut down Thursday afternoon by state health inspectors after a pest problem was discovered in the grocery store.

Rita York Hennecke, general manager of the store at 901 Iowa St., said roaches were found in the prepared-foods section of the store just before 2 p.m. Thursday, leading to the prompt temporary closure of the business. The prepared-foods section includes the bakery and deli area, which will remain closed until the pest problem has been completely eradicated, she said.

An aggressive treatment plan is underway in the affected area, she said, adding that the store was committed to complete transparency with the public.

“Food safety is extremely important to us and we are deeply embarrassed” by the incident, she said. “We are committed to making sure it never happens again.” She noted that a large renovation of the area — involving the removal of walls — was already being planned and would more “deeply remedy” the issue.

Regular grocery store items, meat, seafood and produce were found to be pest free, she said. Those areas of the store will be open for business at 7 a.m. Friday. The bakery and deli area will remain closed, however, until The Merc is found to be in compliance with state law regarding pests, which York Hennecke described as “zero tolerance.”

In an email response to a Journal-World reporter Thursday evening, marketing manager Valerie Taylor Richardson said The Merc had no plans to hold a meeting of its shareholders, or owners, about the issue.

The Merc has undergone extensive renovations in recent years, including a $320,000 renovation project that began in 2015 and a $500,000 renovation the year before that. The renovations involved such projects as reorganizing and updating the meat and seafood departments, creating wider aisles, relocation and expansion of the bulk foods section and improvements to the coffee and juice bar, among other renovations.

The branch of The Merc at the Lawrence Public Library, which sells prepared foods from the main store, was still open Thursday afternoon. Employees there referred questions to the general manager.

According to the most recent report available on the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s website — from July 28, 2017 — The Merc was in compliance with state law and no complaint-related investigations had been initiated against it.