Rats! Tacoma’s The Rock Wood Fired Pizza closed due to rodent infestation

Last week, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department ordered the Tacoma location of The Rock Wood Fired Pizza to be closed after a recent health inspection report indicated the “facility has a rodent infestation.”

The restaurant on Jefferson Avenue closed on Nov. 13 after a health inspector recorded multiple pieces of evidence of the infestation. (A PDF of the county report can be viewed here.) Notably, the inspector discovered rodent droppings throughout the kitchen and below equipment. In addition, the droppings were found on food contact surfaces including pizza paddles and service trays and pre-cut wax paper used for lining plates of food. The droppings were also seen built up on brick walls, alcoves and below sinks.

Also, a pizza flour bag was found chewed through with mouse droppings on top of the bag.

The inspector’s report states The Rock in Tacoma will remain closed until staff  can remove all food debris and grease built up, clean all areas where evidence of pests were found, discard single-use items like paper liners and pizza boxes that have been contaminated and all utensils, cutting boards, and pizza paddles must be sanitized. and have a certified pest control operator come to treat the facility.

Once the eatery provides evidence of the pest control operator’s visit, representatives can contact the county for a required pre-opening inspection. If it passes that, it will be permitted to open again.

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The Rock in Tacoma has been hit with multiple violations

Records show this isn’t the first time this year The Rock’s Tacoma location has had run-ins with rodents. According to a report from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, they were cited for the presence of rodents in January. Fruit flies were observed throughout the kitchen as well. (A PDF of that report can be viewed here.)

Going further, the county health department has visited the restaurant nine times since April 2023. They were cited five of those times for various violations, including the lack of adequate hand washing facilities, proper temperatures to hold both hot and cold items and the improper storage of toxic substances. Specifically, that 2023 report called out “Hot Shot” insecticide located on a pipe next to prep sink.

The Rock Wood Fired Pizza has seven locations in Washington: Covington, Federal Way, Lacey, Lake Tapps, Puyallup, Renton and the Tacoma restaurant. The chain recently closed locations in Lynnwood and Bothell as well.

Contributing: KIRO 7

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, or email him here.