The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants temporarily shut down Gainesville restaurant Ichiban Sushi on Wednesday, Dec. 18.  

DBPR noted 23 sanitary and safety violations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code, including five high-priority, four intermediate, 14 basic and 12 repeat violations.  

On Wednesday, Ichiban management posted a sign on their door next to the DBPR’s yellow notice of closure. The sign said, “Valued Ichiban guest, we are working closely with the Department of Food + Health to resolve a minor issue. We plan on resuming normal hours starting at 5:00 p.m. Thursday 12/19/24.” 

DBPR ordered the restaurant at 4928 NW 39 Ave. to remain closed from Dec. 19-21 after it failed mandatory follow-up inspections every 24 hours since the initial shutdown. 

The high-priority violations on Dec. 18 included employees preparing food without washing their hands after touching their heads, soiled clothes and phones while watching videos on them when orders came in. 

The division issued a warning for approximately 20 live roaches found on the cooler door hinges with more under sheet pans, near the sushi bar’s swinging door, in the freezer prep area and on the ice machine. 

An administrative complaint, repeat violation and stop sale were issued for food in the cooler being stored above the required 41 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Some of the intermediate and basic violations included mold and black stains on food-contact surfaces like cutting boards, unlabeled chemical bottles, food being improperly thawed or stored on the floor, in-use utensils sitting in standing water of the wrong temperature, no visible ambient air temperature thermometer in the sushi display coolers and standing water in the bottom of the reach-in-cooler. 

The Dec.19-21 high-priority violations warranted administrative complaints for more live and dead roaches found around appliances and food storage containers throughout the restaurant’s kitchen, and food still being stored at too warm of temperatures. 

Mainstreet attempted to contact Ichiban. 

According to their website, Ichiban Sushi has been serving “the best Pan-Asian fare and sushi with a fantastic atmosphere and amazing service” since opening in 1998. 

The Dec. 18 shutdown is Ichiban’s fourth inspection failure this year and the first time closing its doors. DBPR’s online licensing portal details 15 high priority, 14 intermediate, 35 basic and 28 repeat violations in 2024 for the sushi restaurant.  

Ichiban has not met inspection standards without requiring a follow-up inspection since Aug.1, 2023. 

DBPR classifies high-priority and intermediate violations as any that could directly cause a foodborne illness or injury, such as processes for preparing food and personnel training. Basic violations are anything that would be considered best practice to implement. 

The division can issue a warning after inspection documents have provided a timeline for how long an establishment must correct violations. Oftentimes violations can be addressed during the inspection and do not necessitate a follow-up inspection.  

If the business does not constructively respond to the warning or continues to repeat violations, the division can take legal action and issue an administrative complaint or an emergency order. 

When the state issues an emergency order to close a restaurant temporarily, the restaurant license is also suspended. According to section 261 of Florida statute 33, the state can fine, suspend or revoke a public food service establishment’s license if it imposes a direct threat to the public by allowing criminal activity, has unfit premises or fails to meet sanitation standards. 

To report a violation of state standards and request an inspection, the Florida DBPR can be reached at 850-487-1395. Complaints can also be filed online at myfloridalicense.com.