ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Some of the city’s most famous restaurants in one of Albuquerque’s most popular shopping malls are losing customers after failing the city’s latest health inspection. We have had no choice but to stop accepting them. Some shoppers at Coronado Mall had mixed emotions upon hearing the announcement.
“It doesn't look very clean,” Coronado Mall shopper Ana Valandia said Friday.
“It's no big deal. I feel like I see something much worse every day,” said MC Martinez, a customer waiting for his food at Longhorn Steakhouse.
“It's disturbing,” said Clay Pryor, another Longhorn Steakhouse customer.
Restaurants that are temporarily closed include The Cheesecake Factory, Sbarro's and Keba Juice. Panda Express was also listed, but has since reached compliance and reopened.
“If there's a problem, we're happy to shut down until the problem is resolved,” Pryor explained.
Longhorn Steakhouse is also on the list, receiving an “unsatisfactory” rating but allowed to remain open. For those who were waiting to eat dinner there on a Friday, it didn't bother them too much.
“They have the best rare filets,” Martinez added, talking about Longhorn Steakhouse.
“I really believe they're going to fix the problem. If they don't, I'll probably consider going elsewhere,” Pryor said.
The city said the Department of Environmental Health received complaints about cockroaches in the mall's food court. During the latest inspection this week, the department found evidence of insect and rodent infestations and immediately closed five stores. Two of them reopened after passing re-inspection.
Some expressed concerns about eating at the mall, but others said they would return once the stores were clean again. “I don't know what the consequences of some of the personal hygiene issues I've seen should be,” Pryor explained. “I'll probably go back once the issue is resolved.”
Some of these restaurants could reopen next week if they pass re-inspection.
