Philadelphia health officials ordered Victory Brewing Company, located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, to shut its doors for 48 hours after a routine inspection uncovered multiple sanitation violations. Inspectors reported live mice caught on glue traps, roaches beneath a soda machine, flies near food‑preparation sinks, and mouse droppings in the oven, food‑container and bar areas.
Inspection findings and immediate response
The city’s health department described the conditions as “imminent health hazards,” prompting the temporary closure. Additional citations included employees putting on gloves without first washing their hands, a lack of hot water at several sinks, dirty food‑contact surfaces, and dishwashers that were not properly sanitizing.
“I was a little surprised. I come here all the time,” said Erin Murphy, a resident of Yardley, after learning of the violations. Despite the findings, Murphy added that she plans to return once the issues are resolved, noting that the problems seemed like “a bunch of little things that added up.”
Community reactions
Local patrons expressed concern over the health risks. “That’s very concerning. That’s disgusting, actually. I don’t know if I will ever come back to this establishment and give them my business again,” said Ashley Greene of West Philadelphia.
Geoff Lewandowski, a regular from Wilmington, emphasized the importance of swift corrective action. “In the city, violations pop up at a lot of different places, and hopefully they can get their act together and clean up and reopen,” he said.
Brewing company’s response
Victory Brewing posted an update on Instagram stating its intention to reopen the following day, asserting that it has “always been in compliance with the health department since opening” and that it “maintains a regular pest control service with a professional provider.” The brewery also confirmed that pest‑control workers were on site during the closure.
While the company expressed confidence in its ability to address the cited issues quickly, city officials warned that the brewery may only reopen once all violations are fully corrected.
What this means for patrons
Customers are encouraged to monitor the brewery’s communications for updates on the reopening timeline and to verify that the establishment has met all health‑department requirements before returning. The incident underscores the importance of rigorous sanitation standards in Philadelphia’s vibrant food‑and‑drink scene.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
