Greenville County, August 5, 2025
News Summary
Food inspectors in Greenville County discovered significant health code violations during July inspections of local restaurants. Establishments like Blockhouse Restaurant and Group Therapy Pub faced issues such as improper food temperatures and contamination. While some restaurants improved scores after follow-up inspections, the findings highlight ongoing concerns about food safety and sanitation standards in the region, emphasizing the need for compliance to protect public health.
Greenville County food inspectors uncovered numerous health code violations in local restaurants during a series of inspections in July. Many establishments failed to meet the required sanitation and food safety standards, ultimately leading to low inspection scores and necessary corrective actions.
One of the most notable cases was that of Blockhouse Restaurant, situated on Augusta Road in Greenville. During a routine inspection on July 22, the restaurant received a score of 77, classifying it with a C rating. Violations at Blockhouse included:
- Insufficient chlorine levels in the warewashing machine.
- A can opener blade encrusted with food debris.
- A dirty vegetable slicer.
- Improper food temperatures for various items including chicken wings, cheese, chicken salad, and shucked oysters.
- Several packages of thawed, sealed fish lacking proper storage.
- A dish machine area infested with fruit flies and clean knives stored improperly.
- Soiled items stored as clean in the dish machine and prep area.
- Multiple walk-in coolers exceeding the safe ambient temperature of 41°F.
- Buildup of bio-film, grease, and grime on warewashing equipment and cooking appliances.
- Accumulation of food debris and dust beneath sinks and cooking surfaces.
- Broken tiles in the men’s bathroom.
Following a re-inspection on July 25, Blockhouse improved to a score of 96. However, it still received a C rating due to persisting issues, such as equipment not being air dried properly, continued accumulation of grime, and missing tiles noted in previous checks.
Another establishment affected was Group Therapy Pub and Playground, which underwent inspection on July 1, earning a score of 82 (B). Violations included:
- Open employee drinks stored on food prep surfaces.
- Improper temperatures in the warewashing machine.
- A lack of sanitizer in the three-compartment sink.
- An ice scoop improperly stored on a soiled ice machine.
- Presence of black bio-film inside the ice machine.
- Stained cutting boards and unresolved issues from past inspections.
- Dirty spray bottles and improperly covered cooked wings.
- Flies in the kitchen and ice buildup in the walk-in cooler.
- Dust on the HVAC vents over food prep areas.
A follow-up inspection on July 9 yielded a score of 94, but the pub was still assigned a C rating due to lingering concerns about chlorine sanitizer concentration and improper labeling. However, on the same day, Group Therapy Pub later achieved a perfect score of 100 (A) after the necessary corrections were made.
The inspections across Greenville County revealed an ongoing trend of violations related to sanitation and food safety. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture conducted inspections on numerous food establishments within the region, focusing on high-risk violations that could lead to foodborne illnesses. Overall, establishments recognized and corrected their issues in subsequent inspections, although violations ranged from improperly marked cooked items to poor food cooling practices.
In summary, Greenville County’s food safety inspections for July highlighted significant areas for improvement among local restaurants, stressing the importance of compliance with health codes to ensure public safety.
FAQ Section
What are health code violations?
Health code violations are breaches of the regulations established to ensure food safety and hygienic conditions in food establishments.
What scores do restaurants receive during inspections?
Restaurants are assigned scores based on their compliance with health codes, where 100 denotes perfect compliance, and lower scores indicate various levels of violations.
What actions are taken if a restaurant receives a low score?
Restaurants that receive low scores are usually required to make immediate corrections and will be re-inspected to assess compliance.
What common violations were found in Greenville County?
Common violations included improper food temperatures, cleanliness issues with kitchen equipment, and poor food storage practices.
How often are food establishments inspected?
The frequency of inspections can vary based on the type of establishment and previous inspection outcomes, but health departments typically inspect regularly to ensure compliance.
Key Features Overview
| Restaurant | Initial Score | Follow-Up Score | Issues Found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blockhouse Restaurant | 77 (C) | 96 (C) | Insufficient chlorine levels, dirty equipment, improper food temperatures |
| Group Therapy Pub | 82 (B) | 94 (C) | Open employee drinks, improper storage, unresolved previous violations |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Windy City Burgers and Rapid Fire Pizza Achieve ‘A’ Grades
Health Violations Report for Greenville Restaurants in December
Additional Resources
- The State: Greenville County Health Inspections
- Greenville Online: Food Inspection Grades
- GoUpstate: May Health Inspections
- Independent Mail: Anderson County Food Inspections
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
