Ferg’s Sports Bar: Roaches, Rodents, Possible Maggots Force Temporary Closing

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Ferg’s Sports Bar is the place to go before or after an event at Tropicana Field for a beer and a bite to eat. Customers who tried on Thursday, however, may have noticed a temporary closing sign on the door.

The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation ordered the 1320 Central Ave. eatery shut down on Thursday after an inspector found a long list of violations. State records show the eatery did meet state standards by Friday and was allowed to reopen.

So, what caused the short-term shuttering? According to the state’s report, a lot of health code violations – 42 to be exact. That tally included nine high priority violations, six intermediate ones and 27 on the basic level.

The inspector noted a number of standard violations found at many eateries, such as debris behind a dishwasher, food debris buildup on non-food contact surfaces and unclean floors, among others. The high-priority violations, however, really caught the inspector’s attention.

“Live ants observed crawling on coolers and other equipment outside the kitchen past the flatbread cooler/oven area,” the inspector wrote. “Live white insects in bar beer bottle bucket. Appear to be maggots. Approximately 20.”

Ants and maggots weren’t the only concerns noted in the report.

Live roaches were also found in abundance. The inspector noted approximately 30 behind a white chest cooler near the walk-in, more were spotted on a pallet under a chest cooler and a few more near the flatbread freezer.

Rodent activity was also evidenced. The inspector found “38 hard dropping(s) in middle condiment cabinet,” the report stated. In addition, a dropping was found on a pepper shaker top and “one fuzzy dropping in wet wipe container attached to wet wipes.”

The state’s closing order didn’t remain in place long. A follow-up inspection conducted Friday showed only two intermediate violations remained in place and eight basic ones. All high-priority concerns had been addressed and Ferg’s was deemed to have met state standards, the inspection report stated.

Ferg’s isn’t the only local eatery to have faced a temporary closing in recent days. The state also closed down a popular mall eatery in Tampa and a Mongolian grill in Brandon earlier this month.

To check out all of Ferg’s state inspection reports since late 2013, visit the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation online.

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