DirtyFLRestaurant Inspection Data

EMPIRE BAGEL FACTORY

EMPIRE BAGEL FACTORY located in FORT MYERS has undergone 7 health department inspections, achieving a 2.9/5 overall safety rating. Recent inspections indicate some food safety concerns.

9961 INTERSTATE COMMERCE DR #195

Overall Food Safety Rating

★★½☆☆ (2.9/5)
Based on 7 health inspection reports

All Inspection Reports

Inspection Date: 9/4/2025

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10942487

  • 14-69-4:Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
  • 02D-03-4:Basic - Label on a food item prepared and packaged onsite for customer self-service does not include product identity/description, date product was packaged and name and address of the establishment that prepared and packaged the food. In front glass door reach-in cooler, packaged flavored cream cheese for customer self service lacking proper labeling,
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Vent covers in walk-in cooler.
  • 12A-27-4:High Priority - Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. After cracking raw shell eggs, employee handled ready-to-eat toasted bagel to butter without switching gloves, washing hands. Toasted bagel came into direct contact with raw eggs - see stop sale.
  • 01B-13-4:High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Employee cracked raw shell eggs and then handled ready-to-eat food and/or clean equipment or utensils without washing hands. After cracking raw shell eggs, employee handled ready-to-eat toasted bagel to butter without switching gloves, washing hands. Toasted bagel came into direct contact with raw eggs.
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach-in cooler main, cooked pork sausage (51F - Cold Holding); cooked pork roll (54F - Cold Holding); veggie cream cheese (47F - Cold Holding); Ham (48F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (46F - Cold Holding) at top portions filled above fill line. Per operator, top unit was opened 3 hours ago and not closed in between service. Operator voluntarily discarded all items. Corrected On-Site
  • 03B-01-6:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. On counter next to flat grill, cooked potatoes hash browns (74F - Hot Holding) for 20 minutes per operator. Operator added a 4 hour time mark for discard and. Discussed with operator updating time as a public health control form when adding new items to time control. **Corrective Action Taken**
  • 02C-03-5:Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Observed cream cheese and flavored cream cheeses in walk-in cooler, reach-in cooler missing any date marking from date cream cheese was originally opened, per operator from multiple batches between 2-4 days ago. Operator began labeling all products. **Corrective Action Taken**

Inspection Date: 11/20/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 10722104

  • 14-69-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer. Repeat Violation Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-20: **Time Extended**
  • 29-08-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Handwash sink closest to triple sink leaking. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-20: Sink turned off due to leak. Discussed with operator need to keep sink turned on when employees are present to allow for proper handwashing. Operator turned on sink. **Time Extended**
  • 22-16-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Also on vent cover. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-11-20: **Time Extended**

Inspection Date: 11/18/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8823013

  • 14-69-4:Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer. Repeat Violation Warning
  • 29-08-4:Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Handwash sink closest to triple sink leaking. Warning
  • 22-16-4:Basic - Walk-in cooler shelves have accumulation of soil residues. Also on vent cover. Warning
  • 35A-02-6:High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 10 by mop sink, 3 by walk-in cooler/freezer, 2 in men's restroom. Warning
  • 08A-05-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk-in cooler raw ground pork sausage over ready-to-eat crumb cake, butter, ham. Operator states pork was mistakenly sent from provide and moved to separate shelf for proper storage. Corrected On-Site Warning
  • 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Knife and knife rack on reach-in cooler shelves. Operator cleaned, sanitized, and layered with plastic wrap. Corrected On-Site Warning

Inspection Date: 7/8/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8670887

  • N/A:No Violations Were Observed

Inspection Date: 7/8/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8728620

  • 13-07-4:Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Two employees with watches on wrists.
  • 14-69-4:Basic - Ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fan covers in walk-in cooler. Repeat Violation
  • 08B-12-5:Basic - Stored food not covered. Coffee ice cubes in walk-in freezer not covered. Operator covered foods. Corrected On-Site

Inspection Date: 5/9/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8350580

  • 36-73-4:Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris in walk-in cooler. Warning
  • 02D-03-4:Basic - Label on a food item prepared and packaged onsite for customer self-service does not include product identity/description, date product was packaged and name and address of the establishment that prepared and packaged the food. Cream cheese containers in reach-in cooler by front counter for customer self service lacking proper labels. Warning
  • 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Fans in walk-in cooler soiled. Warning
  • 35A-02-6:High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 15 in back part of kitchen, on walls by walk-in cooler and mop sink. In front bagel display area, approximately 15 observed, with 5 landing on bagels - two on plain bagels to left, one on blueberry bagel bottom left, 2 on everything bagels. Operator wrapped all exposed bagels in paper bags. Warning
  • 01B-13-4:High Priority - Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. In front bagel display area, 5 small flying insects landing on bagels - two on plain bagels to left, one on blueberry bagel bottom left, 2 on everything bagels. Warning
  • 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Main kitchen reach-in cooler:; raw cold smoked salmon (47F - Cold Holding); sliced white cheese (47F - Cold Holding); cooked pork sausage (46F - Cold Holding) for 3 and a half hours per operator. Warning
  • 16-32-5:Intermediate - Incorrect chemical test kit provided for measuring the concentration of the sanitizer solution used in the three-compartment sink and/or dishmachine. Establishment uses quaternary sanitizer, chlorine test strips observed. Warning
  • 02B-01-5:Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. On posted digital menu, lox spread per operator served raw not marked as raw. Asterisk next to consumer advisory for other raw items not easily visible. Warning

Inspection Date: 5/9/2024

Inspection #: Visit ID: 8670578

  • 16-32-5:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Incorrect chemical test kit provided for measuring the concentration of the sanitizer solution used in the three-compartment sink and/or dishmachine. Establishment uses quaternary sanitizer, chlorine test strips observed. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-09: Operator states Quaternary sanitary is not used for ware washing. **Time Extended**
  • 02B-01-5:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Menu does not identify which items contain raw or undercooked animal foods covered by the consumer advisory. On posted digital menu, lox spread per operator served raw not marked as raw. Asterisk next to consumer advisory for other raw items not easily visible. Warning - From follow-up inspection 2024-05-09: Time extension given to allow operator time to update menus. **Time Extended**