Old Skool Cafe Gets Conditional Pass Despite Minor Vermin Issue

Old Skool Cafe in San Francisco's Bayview district received a conditional pass during a health department reinspection on September 25, 2025, with inspectors identifying one critical violation requiring prompt attention. The cafe located at 1429 Mendell Street can continue serving customers while addressing the minor maintenance issue found during this inspection. Inspector Roy Bwogi conducted the reinspection from 2:40 PM to 3:25 PM, focusing on premises conditions, personal cleaning items, and vermin proofing measures. The inspection revealed a torn or damaged door sweep at the exit door leading to the trash room, which requires repair or replacement to prevent potential vermin access to the facility.

Inspection Details

The conditional pass allows Old Skool Cafe to remain operational while addressing the identified vermin proofing concern. The inspector's findings specifically noted that the damaged door sweep creates a potential entry point for pests, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper barriers between food service areas and exterior access points. According to the California Retail Food Code Section 114067 and 114123, proper premises maintenance and vermin proofing are essential components of food safety protocols. The inspector explained that compromised door seals can provide harborage opportunities for rodents and cockroaches, with each cockroach egg case containing 30-40 nymphs.

Facility Compliance History

This reinspection follows a routine inspection conducted on August 21, 2025, which also resulted in a conditional pass. The previous inspection identified multiple violations including food separation and protection issues, premises maintenance concerns, personal cleaning items, and vermin proofing deficiencies. The pattern of conditional passes indicates that Old Skool Cafe has been working to address ongoing maintenance and operational issues identified by health department inspectors. The reduction from multiple violations in August to a single critical violation in September demonstrates progress in the facility's compliance efforts.

Neighborhood Context

Old Skool Cafe serves the Bayview community with convenient access via the T-Third Muni line. The cafe continues to provide services to local residents and commuters while implementing the necessary repairs to achieve full compliance with health department standards. The conditional pass status means customers can continue dining at the establishment with confidence that food safety protocols remain in effect. The identified violation relates to facility maintenance rather than direct food handling practices, allowing the restaurant to maintain normal operations during the correction period.

Next Steps

Old Skool Cafe management must address the door sweep repair promptly to achieve full compliance. The health department will likely schedule a follow-up inspection to verify that the vermin proofing issue has been resolved satisfactorily. Restaurant owner information indicates contact is available at (415) 252-3803 for customers seeking additional information about the facility's compliance status. The establishment's commitment to addressing inspector recommendations demonstrates ongoing efforts to maintain health department standards while serving the Bayview community. The conditional pass classification allows the cafe to continue operations while completing necessary maintenance work, ensuring minimal disruption to both business operations and customer service in the neighborhood.