A silver-framed plaque hanging on the wall at the Johnny Rockets on M Street boasts, “Clean as a whistle. Just look at this … Notice how cleanliness predominates.” But on Feb. 27, a few days before Georgetown students went on spring break, this same restaurant was forced by D.C.’s Department of Health to close due to “gross unsanitary conditions” according to the DOH’s inspection report.
Johnny Rockets reopened on March 6, after complying with the concerns in the inspection report.
According to Leila Abrar, Communications Director for the DOH, a diner’s complaint prompted the health inspection.
“I think he saw a rat. Let’s put it this way: the diner observed rodent activity,” she said.
Lauren Yacker, a spokesperson for Johnny Rockets, said that the restaurant complied within 24 hours to all concerns in the report that presented “imminent health dangers,” which included eliminating the presence of rodents and placing trash in proper containers.
Because of structural problems with the flooring that were discovered at the same time as the health code violations, Johnny Rockets remained closed until March 6, when it was cleared to open by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, according to Yacker.
Corina Kwami (SFS ‘10) fondly recalled a late night she spent at Johnny Rockets early in the fall semester, citing nostalgia as the reason she eats at the restaurant. Kwami first said that the closure would not prevent her from returning to the Johnny Rockets on M St, but she later changed her mind, saying she would not return.
“But I wouldn’t disregard the whole chain,” she added.
Kwami’s roommate, Melinda Ku (COL ‘10), was also skeptical about the cleanliness.
“I’d heard [Taco Bell] had gotten closed and reopened, and there were still rats in there,” Ku said. “I don’t really know what ‘cleared’ means.”
