After being hit with a slew of health code violations, including the discovery of mouse droppings and pink slime, the Famous 4th Street Deli in Philadelphia's Queen Village is set to open its doors again on Friday. Despite the unfortunate findings that led to the Philadelphia Department of Health's temporary closure, owner Al Gamble is assuring the public that the issues have been thoroughly addressed.
The 101-year-old deli, known for attracting a host celebrities, and politicians alike, encountered several health concerns during a recent inspection. According to a 6abc report, inspectors noted mouse droppings on prep tables, and a slicer, along with a sanitizing station absent of chlorine. Furthermore, no on-site employees were certified in food safety at the time of inspection.
Gamble, who took ownership of the deli in January, characterized the health department’s findings as partially a result of a "misunderstanding" related to the licensing process. In a robust defense of his establishment's integrity, and in a statement obtained by 6abc, Gamble outlined measures taken to correct the violations. "We've implemented a comprehensive action plan, which includes but is not limited to sealing all outside penetrations, engaging in continuous deep cleaning, and ongoing collaborating with our new extermination company to eradicate these issues," he stated.
The closure of the landmark deli, featuring in film and TV such as "Philadelphia" and Food Network's "The Rachel Ray Show," had disappointed customers. "Devastating. I was going in for chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies. My favorite," Margaret Dillon, a local resident, told 6abc. Yet some, like Dasia from Fishtown, expressed skepticism regarding the deli's comeback, suggesting that once a reputation is damaged, it's tough to rebuild. "No. No. I feel like if you go down that path once. It's kind of hard to live up to it. But, once you mess up, it's kind of like reputation. You know it takes 15 years to build a good reputation, 15 minutes to ruin it," she told 6abc.
Despite the challenges and a $315 fine imposed for reinspection, the deli confirmed its reopening on Friday. In echoes of the deli's storied past, Gamble is hopeful that the swift remedial actions taken will restore the deli's legacy and reassure its faithful clientele. The details surrounding the health violations and the subsequent reopening were also noted in reports by FOX 29 and NBC Philadelphia.
