Florida Restaurant Closures: Temperature Violations (storage)
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 59 emergency restaurant closures for "Temperature violations (storage)" since 2015, affecting 24 food service establishments. 1 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. Duval County leads in Temperature violations (storage) closures; Jacksonville is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is Temperature Violations (storage)?
The temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 135°F — is where foodborne bacteria double in number every 20 minutes. Chicken, beef, dairy, eggs, and cooked foods stored in this range for more than four hours accumulate bacterial loads capable of causing serious illness. Refrigeration failure or hot-holding failures are invisible hazards: food may look, smell, and taste normal while carrying a bacterial load large enough to hospitalize customers. Temperature violations at the storage level mean pathogens have been multiplying unchecked in food that was about to be served.
Under Florida law, DBPR health inspectors have the authority to order the immediate emergency closure of any food service establishment when conditions present an imminent public health risk. The establishment cannot reopen until a follow-up inspection confirms the violation has been fully corrected.
Food held in the danger zone (41°F–135°F) allows Salmonella, Listeria, Clostridium perfringens, and Staph aureus to reach illness-causing concentrations — often with no visible or olfactory warning signs.
1 of 24 affected establishments have been emergency closed for temperature violations (storage) on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — Temperature Violations (storage)
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Duval County | 5 |
| St. Johns County | 3 |
| Hillsborough County | 2 |
| Collier County | 2 |
| Clay County | 2 |
| Sarasota County | 2 |
| Lee County | 2 |
| Leon County | 1 |
| Miami-Dade County | 1 |
| Hendry County | 1 |
Top Cities — Temperature Violations (storage)
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 5 |
| Fort Myers | 2 |
| Sarasota | 2 |
| Vero Beach | 1 |
| Tallahassee | 1 |
| Hialeah | 1 |
| Saint Augustine | 1 |
| Clewiston | 1 |
| Fleming Island | 1 |
| Tampa | 1 |
Top Chains — Temperature Violations (storage)
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for temperature violations (storage).
| Chain | Closures |
|---|---|
| Subway | 1 |
| Pollo Tropical | 1 |
Temperature Violations (storage) Closures — Year Over Year
Recent Temperature Violations (storage) Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aron's Pizza | Orange Park | Clay | |
| El Palacios De Los Frijoles | Hialeah | Miami-Dade | |
| Spiro's Taverna | Vero Beach | Indian River | |
| Bistrology LLC | Miramar Beach | Walton | |
| Hook Fish and Chicken | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Taps Bar & Grill | St. Johns | St. Johns | |
| Subway #31891 | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| La Catrina Tacos & Tequila Bar | Saint Augustine | St. Johns | |
| La Costa Mexican Cantina | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Domo Japanese Restaurant | Fleming Island | Clay | |
| Fify's | Immokalee | Collier | |
| Sabor a Mexico Restaurant | Brandon | Hillsborough | |
| Pollo Tropical #113 | Fort Myers | Lee | |
| Cantina Louie | Melbourne | Brevard | |
| La Mucca Ballerina | Sarasota | Sarasota | |
| Cinco De Mayo Mexican Restaurant and Bar | Tallahassee | Leon | |
| Gili's Kitchen | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Punto Rojo Restaurant & Bakery | Clewiston | Hendry | |
| Red Roof Plus | Fort Myers | Lee | |
| Burnt Pizza E Passione | Naples | Collier |
FAQ: Temperature Violations (storage) Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for Temperature violations (storage)?
- The temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 135°F — is where foodborne bacteria double in number every 20 minutes. Chicken, beef, dairy, eggs, and cooked foods stored in this range for more than four hours accumulate bacterial loads capable of causing serious illness. Refrigeration failure or hot-holding failures are invisible hazards: food may look, smell, and taste normal while carrying a bacterial load large enough to hospitalize customers. Temperature violations at the storage level mean pathogens have been multiplying unchecked in food that was about to be served. Under Florida law, DBPR inspectors are required to order immediate emergency closure when conditions present an imminent public health threat that cannot be corrected while customers are being served.
- What diseases can Temperature violations (storage) cause in a restaurant?
- Food held in the danger zone (41°F–135°F) allows Salmonella, Listeria, Clostridium perfringens, and Staph aureus to reach illness-causing concentrations — often with no visible or olfactory warning signs. These pathogens are responsible for the most common forms of foodborne illness in the United States — including Salmonellosis, E. coli infection, and Norovirus gastroenteritis — and can cause serious complications in children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised customers.
- How many Florida restaurants have been closed for Temperature violations (storage)?
- DBPR has ordered 59 emergency restaurant closures for "Temperature violations (storage)" since 2015, affecting 24 unique food service establishments. Of those, 1 have been closed for this same reason more than once — a pattern that raises serious questions about whether the underlying conditions are being fully corrected between shutdowns.
- What does it mean when a restaurant is closed for Temperature violations (storage) more than once?
- 1 Florida restaurants have been closed for "Temperature violations (storage)" on more than one occasion. Repeat closures for the same reason can indicate that the root cause — whether structural, operational, or management-related — is not being fully addressed during the remediation period between closures. DBPR inspectors may impose additional penalties or pursue license revocation in cases of repeated violations.
- Which Florida county has the most Temperature violations (storage) restaurant closures?
- Duval County has the highest documented Temperature violations (storage) restaurant closure count in Florida. High-volume counties typically reflect their population density and the concentration of food service establishments rather than a disproportionate rate of violations per restaurant.
- How long does a Temperature violations (storage) restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for Temperature violations (storage) remains in effect until a DBPR inspector conducts a callback inspection and confirms the violation has been fully corrected. Restaurants with pest-related closures typically undergo professional extermination, deep cleaning, and structural remediation before requesting a callback — a process that can take anywhere from 24 hours to several days depending on the severity of the infestation.