LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Apparently, the smell of fresh bread attracted more than just two-legged customers at Port of Subs on Rainbow and Cheyenne.
It was shut down November 21 after health inspectors validated an employee's complaint about rats. The complaint read, "They would set traps every night to try and catch (them.) The rats would get into the bread and eat some. I don't know if that bread was discarded or not."
We do know that the rats discarded plenty of droppings around the restaurant's kitchen. The health inspector investigating the complaint found rat feces throughout the facility. In fact, they found rat droppings everywhere there were traps.
Home snap traps were found under equipment, inside storage cabinets and in the office area, with no pest control reports available on site.
Employees explained that the problem had been happening for at least a week, but Port of Subs stayed open until the Health District shut them down for operating under an imminent health hazard.
Droppings and snap traps were also found in a cabinet with an open box of sandwich paper.
Inspectors noted the back door in the hallway and front door were not tightly fitted, potentially allowing any pest to walk right into the restaurant.
The inspector didn't just smell a rat at Port of Subs. She also smelled cigarette smoke in the back near the 3-compartment sink.
Even though the 'No Smoking' sign is clearly posted on the front door, the back door leading to the hallway was open and dozens of cigarette butts were scattered within 3-5 feet of the door.
As for the food itself, the labeling on sliced steak indicated the meat was nearly a month old. The person in charge told inspectors the label was expired, but the food was fresh.
When Darcy Spears arrived to ask questions, the person in charge declined to comment.
Port of Subs was closed from the day before Thanksgiving through the whole holiday weekend.
It was back to a zero-demerit A grade on November 26.
Port of Subs Chief Operating Officer Shawna Mefford sent the following statement on December 6.
"The safety and health of our customers is of utmost priority. Port of Subs® holds very high standards when it comes to cleanliness and food safety.
As published in the media, the locally owned Port of Subs® franchise located at Rainbow and Cheyenne was closed by the health department on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 due to conditions resulting from construction in the shopping center. Unfortunately, extensive building construction within surrounding units prompted a rodent incident.
After the closure, the owner responded with quick action. All food-related products were immediately disposed of, and he fully cooperated with two certified commercial pest control companies, the building property management team, and the Southern Nevada Health Department.
As of Monday, November 26, 2018, the SNHD performed a full inspection and the restaurant received an ‘A’ rating. The issue has been fully resolved and the store has been given a clean bill of health.
Port of Subs, Inc. has investigated the incident, and no allegations of this type have been received before. It is important to mention that during this investigation, Port of Subs® found this to be an isolated incident caused by construction activity in adjacent units.
Port of Subs® strives to maintain the highest possible standards for quality, service and cleanliness for our customers."
