Shrimpy’s Bar & Grill in Rehoboth closed after cockroaches, mold found in kitchen

October 27, 2023

Rob Petree,

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Shrimpy’s Bar & Grill in Rehoboth Beach has been closed by order of the health department after inspectors found cockroaches, pesticide, and mold in the kitchen on equipment along with many other gross health violations inside the restaurant.

47 ABC News was able to obtain the health inspection report through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Office of Food Protection.

The popular restaurant and bar located on Coastal Highway was closed on Thursday, Oct. 26 after health inspectors found numerous live and dead cockroaches throughout the facility, according to the inspection report. Mouse droppings were also found on a table where food is prepped in the kitchen along with spider webs underneath equipment.

Health officials also discovered what has been described as ‘cockroach tracking powder’ around the perimeter of the kitchen, the report stated. The unknown powdery pesticide was found on cutting boards, tongs, and other food-related equipment. A cook inside the kitchen told inspectors that the substance was used to kill cockroaches, according to the report.

Any and all pesticides must be approved for use in a food establishment and applied by a certified pest control operator, according to health officials who noted that they also found the powder on all surfaces in the kitchen as well as the ceilings, walls, and floors of the establishment.

At one point, inspectors noted that they saw an employee arrive to work, put on gloves without washing their hands, and proceed to take a dry wiping cloth and brush the powder off of a cutting board and begin to prep food. No hand washing was observed during the course of the inspection, according to the health report.

There was also a pink slime and mold that inspectors found inside the ice machine. Mold was also found deeply scored, along with a powder residue, on cutting boards in the kitchen.

Along with the pests and pesticides that were found in the restaurant, there were many other gross health code violations that were witnessed during the course of the inspection. Officials noted that no employees in the facility could demonstrate any knowledge of food safety during their visit as evidenced by the lack of concern regarding pest infestation.

There was also no soap or paper towels available at the hand sink in the bar, according to report. And, speaking of hand sinks, the hand sink next to the cook line was found to have been ripped out of the kitchen. Officials said it must be reinstalled prior to reopening.

During the inspection, officials noted in the report that they also saw ground beef patties thawing on the counter and that there were dead insects found on several squirt bottles.

The restaurant was ordered to correct all of the issues, including conducting aggressive professional pest control measures to rid the establishment of all pests, before they will be permitted to reopen.

47 ABC News has reached out to Shrimpy’s Bar & Grill for comment and has not heard back. The establishment posted the following statement on its Facebook page following their closure, saying “Shrimpy’s Bar and Grill is closed for a couple days due to unforeseen circumstances. Thanks for your understanding.”