Dupont Loblaws Reopens After Rodent Infestation
Posted February 2, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s the kind of information that makes shoppers squirm and leaves the owners doing everything they can to try and erase the memory that it happened at all: rats inside their store.
That was just one of the problems that shuttered a large and popular Loblaws at Dupont and Christie Sts. last week. The grocery outlet finally reopened Monday morning after being given a thorough cleaning from top to bottom that may well make it the cleanest such store in the city.
We first told you about the closure last week, after a customer noticed the furry rodents scurrying around the aisles. When Toronto Public Health inspectors arrived, they found other violations and immediately closed the business until all the concerns were addressed.
Last Thursday, the facility got the go-ahead to reopen its doors, but the store had to be completely restocked, with fully 100 per cent of its products replaced after the rat scare.
But while it’s passed muster with inspectors, the real question now is whether it will also pass the inspection of former shoppers, who will have to decide whether to return to buy their groceries at the outlet.
“I just thought they made a big thing of it,” shrugs Lee Lambert. “I think every store and every restaurant has a little bit of a problem with those. It’s not like it’s not unnatural. It’s my favourite Loblaws.”
Others expressed the same confidence. “I’m sure they have addressed the main source of the problem,” a shopper named Vivian relates. “It’s just unfortunate that they let it go for quite a time.”
“I’m very happy and everything is fine in there,” assures Adrian, another returning customer. “And everything is fine in there, it looks beautiful.”
Some shoppers like Zora are willing to forgive – but not forget. “You just have to be careful for the future,” she cautions.
The company is moving fast to try and rehabilitate its reputation. “The health and safety of our customers is paramount to us and we apologize for any concern our temporary closing may have caused,” Loblaws announced in a press release.
“We would like to reassure you that Loblaw Companies is committed to providing our customers with a clean and safe store environment and offering products that are produced, sourced and handled responsibly.
“Upon reopening, to demonstrate this, we will conduct store audits every 48 hours by an independent third party.”
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But Loblaws is from off the hook for the problems. The company is still facing fines totalling $75,000.
How to check on any store that sells food to the public in Toronto.
