FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – A popular restaurant at Sawgrass Mills Mall was temporarily ordered shut for the second time in just over a year this past week, amidst a broader series of closures across South Florida restaurants cited for critical health and safety violations by state inspectors.
Matchbox, located within the vast shopping complex in Sunrise, was the subject of an emergency closure order issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) on June 19, 2025. This action followed an inspection that uncovered numerous and concerning health code breaches, notably a significant and widespread presence of small flying insects.
Repeated Violations at Sawgrass Mills Eatery
The inspection report for Matchbox detailed extensive activity of small flying insects throughout the establishment. Inspectors documented these pests landing on open liquor bottles at the bar, on food preparation surfaces where meals are prepared, and even on containers used for storing food items. The report indicated that the issue was not isolated but rather a pervasive problem within the restaurant’s premises.
Significantly, this is not the first time Matchbox at Sawgrass Mills has faced such punitive action from state regulators. Records show the restaurant was previously ordered shut on March 15, 2024, also due to a similar issue involving flying insects. The repeated nature of this specific violation raises questions about the effectiveness of previous corrective measures or ongoing pest control protocols.
Beyond the insect infestation, the June 19, 2025 inspection also identified other critical food safety failures. Inspectors were compelled to issue multiple stop sale orders for food items found being held at unsafe temperatures, a violation known to facilitate the rapid growth of harmful bacteria and pose a direct risk to public health. The report also cited other general, repeated food safety violations, further underscoring systemic issues identified by regulators.
Widespread Health Concerns Across South Florida
The regulatory actions last week were not confined to Sunrise. State inspectors also identified severe violations at restaurants in other South Florida municipalities, leading to additional temporary closures.
In Miami, May Fu Chinese Restaurant was ordered shut following an inspection that documented extensive evidence of rodent activity. The inspector’s report detailed widespread rodent droppings observed throughout the kitchen area, the central hub for food preparation, as well as in storage areas where ingredients and supplies are kept. Such contamination poses a significant risk of transmitting pathogens and compromising food safety.
Further south in Coral Gables, Havana Harry’s also faced an emergency closure. This action was prompted by a complaint inspection which revealed a significant and concerning roach infestation. Inspectors documented live roaches observed crawling near food preparation zones, on electrical outlets – posing potential fire hazards and unsanitary conditions – and behind kitchen equipment, suggesting a deep-seated and widespread pest problem within the facility.
Regulatory Action and Reopening Procedures
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is the state agency tasked with inspecting public food service establishments to ensure compliance with health and safety standards. When inspectors find violations deemed an “immediate major hazard” to public health, they have the authority to issue an emergency order requiring the establishment to cease operations immediately. This is commonly referred to as being “ordered shut.”
The purpose of these temporary closures is to compel the establishment to address the critical violations and implement corrective actions under regulatory oversight. Restaurants ordered shut are not permitted to reopen until a follow-up inspection confirms that all identified major hazards have been satisfactorily remediated and the establishment is deemed safe to operate.
In the cases mentioned – Matchbox at Sawgrass Mills, May Fu Chinese Restaurant, and Havana Harry’s – all establishments were subsequently allowed to re-open. This occurred following an ordered clean-up process and successful re-inspection by DBPR officials, confirming that the critical conditions that led to their emergency closures had been resolved, at least temporarily.
Protecting Public Health Through Oversight
The actions taken by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation highlight the critical role of regular inspections in safeguarding public health within the state’s extensive food service industry. While temporary closures can disrupt businesses, they serve as a vital mechanism to ensure that restaurants adhere to fundamental hygiene and safety protocols necessary to prevent foodborne illnesses and maintain public trust.
The repeated nature of violations at some establishments, such as the documented issues at Matchbox, underscores the ongoing challenge regulators face in ensuring consistent compliance and the importance of businesses maintaining vigilant standards between inspections. Consumers relying on these establishments for dining expect and deserve environments free from pests and maintained at the highest safety standards.
