Castro grocery store Mollie Stone's at 4201 18th Street (at Collingwood) has been closed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, which placed a notice on the store's front door on Thursday citing a "vermin infestation."

By Thursday night, the grocery store had placed two signs in the window indicating that the store was temporarily closed.

"As a local, family-owned and operated grocer, we have been extraordinarily proud of our record of cleanliness, health, and safety in all of our stores," said Mollie Stone's CEO Mike Stone.

"A recent street construction project near our store in the Castro generated an increase in pest activity," added Stone.

Mollie Stone's at 4201 18th St. was temporarily closed. | Photo: Steven Braco/Hoodline

 

Stone tells Hoodline that the grocery store should reopen by this afternoon.

"Working with the city and our pest experts, we closed the store briefly to fully address the issue and have rectified it," said Stone. "The health department has re-inspected the store and we will be open for business by noon today."

The closure comes during what was likely to be a busy weekend for the store for San Francisco Pride festivities.

Hoodline reached out to SFDPH for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Update 11:30 a.m. An SFDPH spokesperson confirmed the closure to Hoodline.

"The SFDPH Environmental Health Branch is working with the business to ensure corrective actions to Health Code violations are taken. Once corrective actions are taken, the business can reopen," the SFDPH spokesperson stated. "An inspection conducted by SFDPH is required prior to reopening to the public."

According to an inspection report posted on SFDPH's website, "gnawed food packages" including tortillas, multiple packages of bread and chips, and cookies were "voluntarily discarded at the time of inspection."

Rodent droppings were also found on single-use food containers "at the deli/cheese area, on shelving for bread, cookies, marshmallows, chips, diapers, and on top of cold holding unit at deli and on floors at loading dock, warehouse, beneath food prep sink at warehouse, beneath produce shelves in warehouse, and along the side of the walk-in refrigeration unit in the warehouse."

Mollie Stone's placed signs on its entrance announcing the temporary closure. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

 

The inspector also observed multiple food items on the deli hot plate being kept at the incorrect temperature. Additionally, the inspector cited the store for failing to have sanitizer and hot potable water in the butcher area.

The grocery store will not be allowed to reopen until all infractions have been corrected and SFDPH has reinstated Mollie Stone's permit to operate.

Mollie Stone's now has 15 days to request a hearing "to show cause why the permit suspension is not warranted." Failure to comply with the notice comes with a misdemeanor and possible fines of $1,000 for each offense.

Hoodline will update this story as we learn more information.

Update 1:30 p.m.

Mollie Stone's has reopened for business.

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Thanks to Hoodline tipster Christopher V. and P.J. C. If you've seen something new (or closing) in the neighborhood, text your tips and photos to (415) 200-3233, or email [email protected]. If we use your info in a story, we'll give you credit.