Spotlite Market Gets Conditional Pass Despite Minor Violations

Spotlite Market received a conditional pass on its health inspection conducted on November 17, 2025, allowing the SOMA market to continue serving customers while addressing several minor violations that require correction by November 24th. The market located at 298 Guerrero Street near Civic Center BART was cited for four violations during the routine inspection, including one critical issue that caught inspectors' attention but did not warrant closure.

Inspection Details

Health inspectors discovered two cats living inside the retail facility, along with food and water bowls and a litter box in the storage area. This violation of California Retail Food Code Section 114259 requires immediate attention, as only service animals are permitted in food service establishments. The presence of non-service animals poses potential contamination risks and violates basic food safety protocols. The inspection also revealed issues with handwashing facilities. Inspectors found that the employee bathroom handwash sink lacked adequate hot water temperature, failing to meet the minimum requirement of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, bar soap was being used instead of the required liquid soap at handwashing stations. These violations compromise proper hand hygiene practices that are essential for preventing foodborne illness transmission. Administrative issues were also noted during this inspection. The facility displayed an expired license certificate and failed to post the current permit to operate as required by health department regulations. While these are minor infractions, they affect transparency and public awareness of the establishment's compliance status.

Continued Operations

Despite these violations, the conditional pass allows Spotlite Market to remain open for business while addressing the identified issues. The SOMA establishment serves the local community near the busy Civic Center BART station, providing convenient access to groceries and market items for residents and commuters. The market's operator, Spotlite Inc., has been given a clear timeline to correct all violations by November 24th. This one-week correction period demonstrates the health department's recognition that while the issues need addressing, they do not pose an immediate threat to public safety that would require closure.

Previous Inspection History

This marks the first recorded inspection for Spotlite Market in the city's database, indicating either a newly opened establishment or a recent change in ownership. The lack of previous inspection history means there are no patterns of recurring violations to analyze, suggesting this may represent initial operational adjustments rather than systemic compliance issues.

Next Steps

Health department officials will conduct a follow-up inspection after November 24th to verify that all violations have been properly addressed. The market must remove the cats from the premises, upgrade handwashing facilities to provide adequate hot water temperature, switch to liquid soap dispensers, and display current permits and licenses. For customers, the conditional pass indicates that while minor improvements are needed, the establishment can continue operating safely during the correction period. The violations identified are correctable operational issues rather than fundamental food safety failures that would endanger public health. The market remains accessible via the Civic Center BART station and continues serving the SOMA community while working to achieve full compliance with city health regulations.