Conditional

Michigan Food Center Inc.

5539 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Grocery Store ZIP 60637 Risk 2 (Medium)

Pass with Conditions · as of Jul 17, 2025

Michigan Food Center Inc. was last inspected on July 17, 2025 with a result of “Pass w/ Conditions”. Inspectors found 13 violations, 2 of them critical.

Latest inspection

July 17, 2025 · Complaint

Conditional

Result: Pass w/ Conditions

2 critical10 general1 paperwork
  • CriticalManagement & training

    No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

    Inspector’s note: Observed no person in charge with valid chicago food sanitation certificate. Instructed manager to designate person in charge during all hours of operation. Priority foundation

    Official wording (code 1)

    Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

  • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

    Staff were eating, drinking, or smoking where food is prepared.

    Inspector’s note: Observed employee eating on prep table behind front counter. Instructed manager to provide designated area for employee meals outside of prep area.

    Official wording (code 6)

    Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use

  • GeneralFood handling

    Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

    Inspector’s note: Observed box of ground beef stored on floor inside walk-in cooler and chips stored on floor in sales area. Instructed manager to elevate all food items six inches off floor

    Official wording (code 39)

    Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

  • GeneralFood handling

    Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

    Inspector’s note: Observed soiled wiping cloths stored on prep table and hand washing sink. Instructed manager to store wiping cloths in sanitizing solution between uses.

    Official wording (code 41)

    Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

    Inspector’s note: Observed only one stopper for 3-compartment sink. Instructed manager to provide adquate stoppers and maintain. Observed missing fan cover inside walk-in cooler. Instructed manager to replace and maintain.

    Official wording (code 47)

    Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed spills and debris on interior and exterior surfaces of coolers, slicer, oven, prep tables, holding units, sinks. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.

    Official wording (code 49)

    Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

    Inspector’s note: Observed leaking faucet and drainpipe on hand washing sink behind front counter. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.

    Official wording (code 51)

    Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

    Inspector’s note: Observed toilet and sink in need of cleaning in washroom. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.

    Official wording (code 53)

    Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed clutter inside prep cooler behind front counter and in rear dish washing area. Instructed manager to organize all areas and maintain.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed mop head stored on floor in rear dish washing area. Instructed manager to properly hang mop to prevent insect breeding.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed stained ceiling tiles in sales area and damaged floor tiles in dish washing area. Instructed manager to replace and maintain.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: Observed missing light shield in walk-in cooler. Instructed manager to replace.

    Official wording (code 56)

    Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  • PaperworkManagement & training

    No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

    Inspector’s note: Observed no chicago food sanitation manager on site or valid certificate posted when tcs food (italian beef, ground beef) prepared and served. A chicago food sanitation manager must be on site at all times tcs food prepared and served. Priority foundation 7-38-012 citation issued

    Official wording (code 2)

    City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

Inspection history

6 inspections on record

  1. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    1 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed a hole in the wall at the side of the handsink in the employee washroom and a hole in the base of the wall between the toilet and handsink; instructed to seal both holes. Observed the walls and ceiling in the washroom unfinished. Walls painted but have spots from holes that were plastered; instructed to repaint walls and ceiling.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed that all food handlers must obtain the required food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  2. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical6 general2 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: No employee health policies on premises, as required, must be provided and maintained. Instructed the person in charge to provide documentation of the employee's responsibility to report any illness transmissible through food. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010 citation issued.

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Observed evidence of pest activity on premises. Found 50 or more mouse droppings on the floor under the potato chip storage rack, behind front serving counter on the floor by the prep table, on the floor of the rear storage/dishwashing area. Instructed to clean all areas and have pest control company service before reinseption next week. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a) citation issued.

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean and maintain the following: fan covers in walk-in cooler to remove dust, rusty shelves inside of walk-in cooler, interiors of refrigeration units where needed.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

      Inspector’s note: Found employee washroom door not self closing; instructed to install a self closing device at washroom door.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the floors in the rear storage area, under potato chip storage shelves on selling floor, inside of walk-in cooler and in employee washroom.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed a hole in the wall at the side of the handsink in the employee washroom and a hole in the base of the wall between the toilet and handsink; instructed to seal both holes. Observed the walls and ceiling in the washroom unfinished. Walls painted but have spots from holes that were plastered; instructed to repaint walls and ceiling. Observed missing ceiling tile in rear area; instructed to replace tile where needed.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed unnecessary items in corner areas of the store; instructed to remove, organize and maintain. Observed items stored inside of the utility sink; instructed to remove and keep sink clear and free of items for use.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

      Inspector’s note: No city of chicago food service manager on duty as required while handling and serving tcs foods; instructed to provide and maintain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012 issued.

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed that all food handlers must obtain the required food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  3. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    5 critical6 general Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no employee health policy available. Instructed manager to provide in a verifiable manner employee responsibility to report any illness transmissible through food. Priority foundation 7-38-010

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no soap at hand washing sinks in washoom and dish washing areas. Instructed manager to provide soap at all hand washing sinks for proper hand washing. Priority foundation 7-38-030(c)

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no paper towels at hand washing sinks in prep, washroom and dish washing areas. Instructed manager to provide sanitary hand drying devices at all hand washing sinks. Priority foundation 7-38-030

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no hand washing sign at hand washing sinks. Instructed manager to provide hand washing signs at all hand washing sinks.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

      Inspector’s note: Observed raw ground beef stored at improper temperature 49.3f in walk-in cooler. Instructed manager to discard. All cold tcs food must maintain 41f or below during inspection. Priority 7-38-005

      Official wording (code 22)

      Proper cold holding temperatures

    • GeneralFood temperature

      Not enough equipment, or the wrong method, to cool and hold food at safe temperatures.

      Inspector’s note: Observed walk-in cooler not maintaining proper temperature 51.1f instructed manager to repair and maintain 41f or below. Walk-in cooler is tagged held for inspection and must not be used until reinspected by chicago department of health. Priority 7-38-005

      Official wording (code 33)

      Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

      Inspector’s note: Observed packaged bread stored on floor. Instructed manager to elevate all stock six inches off floor.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

      Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed food handler not wearing hair restraints. All food handlers must wear effective hair restraints.

      Official wording (code 40)

      Personal cleanliness

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed any activity and pop can inside rear hand washing sink in dish washing area. Observed food debris inside gaskets of display cooler. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed stained and missing ceiling tiles in dish washing area. Instructed to replace and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed missing light shields in dish washing area. Instructed manager to replace and maintain.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  4. Pass

    License Re-Inspection · Pass

    5 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

      Inspector’s note: Clean interior and exterior of all fryers, grill, coolers, freezer, prep tables, slicer, cutting saw, shelving units, display shelves in prep, sales, and storage areas.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Seal all openings in floor behind front counter, meat prep area, and hot food prep area. Replace all missing and damaged floor tiles in prep areas. Clean floors under all equipment, along walls and in all corners in prep, sales, storage, and front counter areas.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Seal all openings in walls and baseboards near exposed sink hot food prep area. Replace all stained ceiling tiles in sales area. Clean interior of ventilation hood in hot food prep area. Clean ventilation fan in washroom(dust buildup). Seal openings along basedboards in washroom.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

      Inspector’s note: Replace damaged light shield above reach-in cooler in hot food prep area. Secure loose light shield in rear prep area.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Repair leaking hot water faucet and drainpipe on 3-compartment sink. Extend condensation waste line to floor drain in rear prep area.

  5. Fail

    License · Fail

    6 general Show violations
    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors

      Inspector’s note: Observed over 30 mice droppings scattered on floor and prep table behind vertical broiler, grill, and holding units in hot food prep area, 5 mice droppings scattered on floor in corner under microwave behind front counter. Instructed manager to call an exterminator for service, clean and sanitize all areas. Serious violation 7-38-020

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

      Inspector’s note: Clean interior and exterior of all fryers, grill, coolers, freezer, prep tables, shelving units, display shelves in prep, sales, and storage areas.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Seal all openings in floor behind front counter and hot food prep area. Replace all missing and damaged floor tiles in prep areas. Clean floors under all equipment, along walls and in all corners in prep, sales, storage, and front counter areas.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Seal all openings in walls and baseboards near exposed sink hot food prep area. Replace all stained ceiling tiles in sales area. Clean interior of ventilation hood in hot food prep area. Clean ventilation fan in washroom(dust buildup)

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

      Inspector’s note: Replace damaged light shield above reach-in cooler in hot food prep area. Secure loose light shield in rear prep area.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Repair leaking hot water faucet on 3-compartment sink. Extend condensation waste line to floor drain in rear prep area.

More in ZIP 60637

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 16 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.