Hartford Ave. Subway Reopened After Voluntary Shut-Down

The sandwich shop at 2656 Hartford Ave. reopened on July 22 following a voluntary shut-down that resulted after its air conditioning system failed on July 18.

Dolly Chouha, the owner of the shop, confirmed during a phone interview on July 26 that the state health department made three inspections of the shop — on July 18, 20 and 22 — after she requested them.

"They didn't shut us down," Chouha said. "We closed until the air conditioning was repaired, we made some other repairs, and now it's all set."

In a July 25 e-mail, Rhode Island Department of Health Public Information Officer Annemarie Beardsworth explained that the air conditioning failure meant that the shop's refrigerators could not store food safely.

"When that happens and it is hot outside, the refrigeration units cannot keep the cold foods at the appropriate temperature," Beardsworth wrote.

Health regulations require food to be stored at temperatures below 41 degrees. According to the inspection report filed the day of the shutdown, 10 temperature readings taken on July 18 were above 55 degrees.

Outdoor temperatures on July 18 were in the upper 80s and reached the upper 90s by July 22.

Also on July 18, the health inspector found moldy food in one refrigerator, and utensils that had not been sanitized every four hours as required by regulations.

On July 20, inspectors returned to the shop at the request of Chouha and found that the coolers were still not holding temperatures below 41 degrees.

A third inspection on July 22 confirmed that the cooling units in the shop were keeping food at the proper temperatures and that the shop had addressed the other violatons, and the Subway was allowed to reopen.

The shop also voluntarily disposed of all affected foods, inspectors noted.

Beardsworth said the state health department "also notified the corporate headquarters of Subway of this incident."

To view inspection reports for food establishments, visit the RI Department of Health Food Inspection web page.