Peggy O'Neill's Closed for Health Violations

The Palm Harbor landmark restaurant Peggy O'Neill's Irish Pub and Eatery was temporarily closed Thursday after a state inspector found numerous health violations, many of which involved live cockroaches, according to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

A safety and sanitation inspector with the agency's Division of Hotels and Restaurants inspected the restaurant Thursday after the agency received a complaint. 

The inspection report contained seven critical violations and five non-critical violations. 

Many of the critical violations mentioned roaches. The report detailed the locations where they were found: 

• One dead roach was on the floor behind the hot water heater. 
• Six live roaches were in a damaged wall underneath a sink in the kitchen. 
• Four live roaches were spotted on a wall behind a kitchen prep table. 
• Five live roaches were found in a corner wall of the "to-go" service station. 
• One live roach was found in the piping under the dishwasher. 
• One live roach was found on a wall near the steam table and "to-go" station.

The report also mentioned that walls were in a state of disrepair in three locations in the kitchen: behind the dishwasher, under a sink and behind the hot water heater.

"The perils of a 120-year-old building caught up with us," said owner Eric Webber, who spoke to Palm Harbor Patch late Thursday. 

Webber said the restaurant has never been closed because of health violations. "I've been here 15 years, and it's always gone well," he said. 

He says crews planned on working through Thursday night with the goal of finishing the repairs by early Friday, so the inspector can make a follow-up visit and give the OK to reopen the restaurant.

Some of the tasks include taking out a sink, repairing holes in walls and having the restaurant's exterminator spray for bugs.

"We'll make sure this will never be an issue again," Webber said. "We're going to make it right."

Webber speculated that the complaint that prompted the inspection may have come from a disgruntled former employee. He says that a few employees were recently terminated.

Peggy O'Neill's is usually packed with patrons listening to live music and taking advantage of "Ladies' Night" specials on Thursdays. However, last night the restaurant was closed and unusually quiet. A sign that dangled from the roped-off front entrance said, "Closed for the night due to repairs. Sorry for the inconvenience, Peggy." 

We will be sure to let you know when Peggy O'Neill's reopens.

More information:

• Read the entire Peggy O'Neill's inspection report
• Read Peggy O'Neill's previous inspection reports

Peggy O'Neill's Irish Bar & Grill is located at 1026 Florida Ave.