Blondies Pizza Stonestown Closed After Third Failed Inspection

Blondies Pizza Stonestown in San Francisco's Tenderloin district has been permanently closed by the San Francisco Health Department after failing its third consecutive inspection on October 22, 2025. The Italian restaurant's closure comes after inspectors discovered a pattern of serious violations that put customers at risk of foodborne illness. During this inspection, health officials found the restaurant was using dangerously weak sanitizing solutions at just 50 parts per million chlorine bleach - half the required concentration needed to kill harmful bacteria on food preparation surfaces. The improper sanitizing solution was discovered in the front service area where food was being prepared, creating a significant contamination risk for customers.

Critical Equipment Failures

Inspectors identified multiple equipment issues that compromised food safety. A two-door refrigeration unit next to the ice machine was operating at room temperature instead of the required 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below. While no food was observed in this particular unit during the inspection, the broken refrigeration presented an immediate danger for any potentially hazardous foods that might be stored there. The restaurant's ventilation system also showed signs of neglect, with a missing baffle on the cook's line and service records indicating the hood had not been professionally serviced since 2024. Additionally, the walk-in cooler's floor was observed to be deteriorating, creating potential contamination hazards.

Staff Knowledge Deficiencies

Perhaps most concerning was the staff's lack of basic food safety knowledge. When questioned by inspectors, employees incorrectly stated that 50 ppm chlorine bleach sanitizer was adequate for sanitizing buckets, demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of proper food safety protocols. This knowledge gap suggests systemic training failures that could have resulted in widespread contamination throughout the restaurant's operations.

Pattern of Failed Inspections

The October 22 closure represents the culmination of months of unsuccessful attempts to bring the restaurant into compliance. The previous inspection on October 15 resulted in another failure, with inspectors issuing an abatement conference citation scheduled for November 19. That inspection revealed similar issues with staff food safety knowledge and inaccurate temperature records. Even earlier, a September 24 reinspection resulted in only a conditional pass, with inspectors finding problems with hot and cold holding temperatures and time controls for public health safety.

Health Risks to Customers

The violations discovered at Blondies Pizza Stonestown created multiple pathways for foodborne illness. Inadequate sanitizing solutions allow harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli to survive on cutting boards, utensils, and food preparation surfaces. These pathogens can then spread to dozens of food items, potentially causing severe gastrointestinal illness in customers. The combination of broken refrigeration equipment and staff who lack proper food safety training created an environment where potentially hazardous foods could be stored at dangerous temperatures, allowing bacteria to multiply rapidly. Located near the Powell Street BART station in the Tenderloin, the restaurant's closure affects both local residents and commuters who frequent the area. The San Francisco Health Department has not indicated when or if the restaurant might be allowed to reopen, suggesting the violations may require extensive remediation before operations can resume. The closure serves as a reminder of the importance of consistent food safety practices and proper staff training in commercial kitchens, where even minor lapses can create serious health risks for the dining public.