CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - A popular pizza restaurant in the Eastlake area of Chula Vista closed its doors for good this weekend nearly two weeks after a health inspection forced it to shut down.
A sign was posted on the front entrance to Filippi’s Pizza Grotto that indicated it had permanently closed and referred visitors to their website to find other locations throughout San Diego County.
On Friday, the restaurant at 871 Showroom Place posted a statement on its Facebook page to confirm its closure and to thank customers:
“Filippi's Pizza Grotto Eastlake we would Like to Thank each and every Eastlake resident for all your support over the last 5 years and we would like to invite you to visit Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th from 5pm to 10pm before we close Filippi’s Eastlake location to share all the stories of great times, great food, family, friends & entertainment. Thank You”
The restaurant received a primary inspection report April 18 from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health.
According to the report, an inspector found 20 dried rodent droppings in a back oven and rodent nests in the panels of two ovens. There were also rodent droppings in utensil storage areas, beneath a stove, and dry storage areas, the report stated.
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The report indicated there were multiple holes in an exterior wall and a door leading to the outdoor trash area that building management had ordered to remain open.
Environmental Health officials conducted a second inspection the following day, and according to county documents, an inspector reported six dried mouse droppings and two fresh rat droppings in dry storage on the building’s second floor.
There was also dried urine on the plastic wrapper of cardboard pizza boxes and gnaw marks through plastic into boxes, the report said.
The operator of Filippi’s told the inspector the restaurant had been deep-cleaned before the re-inspection.
After a two-day closure, the restaurant reopened for business on April 20.
The other Filippi's locations were not impacted by the Eastlake closure.
A public relations spokesperson for Play City, an indoor playground, said it was sad to see Filippi's close because families would often eat at the restaurant after visiting the fun center. Play City has not seen attendance decline since Filippi's closed but expected to have a better idea of the financial impact in three to six months.
