Blue Highway Pizzeria in Ocala was temporarily closed after an inspector found 10 health code violations, including three considered high priority.
According to a health inspection report filed by a health inspector with the Florida Department of Business and Profession Regulation, Blue Highway Pizzeria, which is located at 2130 E Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, was shut down on Monday, December 13 after a failed inspection.
Among the issues the restaurant was cited for were three high priority violations, including the presence of flies and roach activity.
The report states that more than 40 live roaches were found in the wheels of cooking equipment in the kitchen. Over 100 live roaches were crawling under the pizza oven, more than 20 live roaches were on the wall and floor near the water heater, and three live roaches were on the wall at the bar.
Flies were also found in the kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area, and inside the bar. More than 50 flies were spotted near the back door, over 10 flies were near the dish machine, and more than 20 flies were close to the water heater.
The restaurant was permitted to reopen after no violations were found upon a follow-up inspection on Thursday, December 16.
Although multiple area restaurants share the Blue Highway Pizzeria name, the Ocala location is owned and operated separately from the others.