More rodents in Miami-Dade, more evictions in Broward — how Boston Market is failing
Rodents helped the Cutler Bay Boston Market get shut down by a failed state inspection last Tuesday for the second time in a two weeks. Though the restaurant reopened by the weekend, eviction probably will close the location permanently.
That’s been the fate of some other Boston Markets in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, a microcosm of the chain’s downward spiral.
First, here are details of the inspection at 18601 S. Dixie Hwy., one of two Boston Markets found filthy by state inspectors two weeks ago.
READ MORE: No water. Too many roaches. Two Boston Markets. Miami to Palm Beach restaurant problems
Cutler Bay Boston Market inspection
This complaint inspection turned up 15 total violations, one of which was a High Priority violation. Among the findings:
▪ “Objectionable odors in bathroom or other areas of the establishment,” almost guarantees a failed inspection.
▪ “Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated food debris, grease, dust, or mold-like substance.”
▪ “Observed condensation from the walk in cooler fan dripping through the middle section of the walk-in cooler. Observed condensation dripping onto the floor from the hair vent located in front of the three-compartment sink.” That led to standing water in the walk-in cooler, which also had a food container with a cracked lid.
But what really killed this Boston Market, again, were nine rodent droppings, including one “right under the cornbread mixer machine” and one “under the food storage shelves between the prep sink and the cornbread mixer.”
This location was back open Thursday after passing re-inspection.
Rent issues at Boston Market locations
Miami’s CEDX, the landlord at 18601 S. Dixie Hwy., filed for eviction on Oct. 3, claiming Boston Market Corp. owed $130,215.58, including rent for July, August and September. Y and Y LeJeune filed similarly in July about 200 NW 42nd Ave. Boston Market signed a lease for the former Pizza Hut location in November 2021, but never opened there.
CEDX and Y and Y beat the Boston Market eviction filing rush in Broward County:
▪ DDRM Midway Plaza filed for 5815 N. University Dr. in Tamarac on Sept. 11.
▪ Plantation Executive Center filed for 330 S. University Dr. in Plantation on Nov. 3.
▪ WRI JT Hollywood Hills filed for 3249 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood on Nov. 6.
▪ WRI JT Flamingo Pines filed for 50 S. Flamingo Rd. in Pembroke Pines on Nov. 6.
The Tamarac and Plantation Boston Markets are already closed. So is the 1781 Commercial Blvd. location in Fort Lauderdale, after 69th St. Properties got a default judgment of eviction on Dec. 9, 2022.
That location remains standing with a partially lit “Boston Market” on the building and an eviction notice on the door. Inside, a couple of pieces of equipment remain.
What’s ahead for the Boston Market chain?
In the 1990s, Boston Market, first known as Boston Chicken, became a staple of people who didn’t feel like cooking, didn’t feel like hamburgers and did feel like fast “comfort food:” turkey with gravy, rotisserie chicken, meat loaf, cornbread, stuffing. Frozen dinners with similar fare keep the brand name prominent as the restaurants get crushed by competition from chains such as Chipotle and major supermarket chains expanding their hot counter menus.
Meanwhile, Boston Market changed corporate management more than its menu. And, that management mismanaged.
▪ The state of Colorado briefly seized Boston Market’s headquarters and three local restaurants in May to satisfy unpaid taxes, as reported by The Denver Post.
▪ US Foods filed a federal lawsuit in May that alleged the chain, now under ownership of Engage Brands, owes the supplier $11.6 million.
▪ The state of New Jersey smacked 27 Boston Markets with Stop Work orders in August after $607,471 in back wages and over $1.2 million in liquidated damages were owed to workers.
