Rodent poop, cockroaches, foul smell, grime at Wichita KS restaurants, stores
Rodent droppings, cockroaches, foul smells, filthy conditions, employees who didn’t wash their hands after touching their faces, an overflowing drain, holes in ceilings, missing records, stained bed linens, missing food labels, exposed light sockets, hair on a bed and more are among violations state inspectors discovered during recent food safety and lodging inspections in the Wichita area.
Each week, The Eagle adds to its searchable database of failed inspections from Sedgwick County. Ten restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from June 7-13.
Inspectors found few or no violations that week at more than 30 other locations deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules.
Kansas Department of Agriculture inspections are meant to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health risks. Locations can fail if they have too many problems, certain types of violations or issues that can’t be fixed right away.
Violations are common. Most of the time, they’re corrected in front of an inspector. Examples of things that can be addressed immediately include serving food that’s more than a week old, employees mishandling ingredients and dirty kitchens. Issues that may take longer to correct include pest infestations, power outages and plumbing problems.
It’s rare, but a business may be temporarily shut down over violations.
Locations that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this report was compiled on June 18 using information available from the state on that date. It covers Sedgwick County only.
But you can search food safety and lodging inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Out-of-compliance inspections
Bubba’s 33, 412 S. Towne East Mall Drive in Wichita — Two violations on June 9 during a follow-up inspection. Employee washed hands then wiped face before putting on gloves, employee touched face then put on gloves to finish plating order, raw chicken and cheese were among foods that weren’t kept cold enough. Next inspection: Aug. 9.
Denny’s, 4024 E. Harry in Wichita — Four violations on June 10 during a complaint inspection. Back door has half-inch gap at bottom that could allow pests to enter, two roaches found on floor near overflowing drain, dust and debris buildup at ceiling, foul smell in building, clogged floor drain was causing sink wastewater to spill onto floor. Next inspection: June 20.
Dollar Tree, 2404 S. George Washington Blvd. in Wichita — Three violations on June 8 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Nearly 200 rodent droppings in storage room, retail items stored on floor in back storage room, several holes in ceiling throughout facility were allowing rodents to enter building. Next inspection: June 18.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Wichita East, 417 S. Webb in Wichita — Sixteen violations on June 10 during a verification inspection. Pool pump room was not vented to the outside, no fecal and vomiting accident logs kept for pool and hot tub, no fire extinguishers in several rooms including maintenance and laundry room, spray bottles were not labeled, hose at laundry room mop sink was hanging below the flood rim, clean linens were in the dirty laundry hamper, ice buckets were not being washed and sanitized, window screen in guest room has large hole, no chlorine in pool so the pool voluntarily closed, electrical outlets near water were not GFCI protected, pool and hot tub disinfectant logs have not been kept daily since 2024, pool and hot tub pH logs have not been kept since 2024, hot tub temperature logs have not been kept since 2024, stain on bed mattress cover in guest room, no soap at laundry room hand-washing sink, stains on couch cushion in guest room. Next inspection: July 10.
Jump Start, 730 N. Broadway in Wichita — One violation on June 9 during a modified complaint inspection. No soap at hand-washing sinks in restrooms. Next inspection: June 19.
Just A Sip, 2126 N. Webb in Wichita — Ten violations on June 11 during a complaint inspection. Packaged ice cream jars were missing ingredient and business information, hot dogs were not marked with the date they were opened, cheesecake portions were not dated, unlabeled spray bottle near ice machine, nacho cheese was not kept hot enough, whipped topping was not kept cold enough, ice cream jars were missing net contents and allergen information, no food thermometer. Next inspection: June 21.
Naan Stop, 300 S. Greenwich, Suite 151 in Wichita — Seven violations on June 10 during a complaint inspection. Curry sauce was not kept hot enough, cooked pork was not labeled with its preparation or package opening date, food items were incorrectly dated, no written plan for cleaning up vomiting or diarrhea incidents, no food thermometer, tandoori chicken cooking method wasn’t approved, raw beef and raw chicken were not kept cold enough, shredded cheese and cooked chicken were not kept cold enough, no sanitizer test strips at three-compartment sink. Next inspection: June 20.
Starlite Motor Lodge, 6345 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Fifteen violations on June 10 during a verification inspection. No disposable gloves in laundry room, no fire extinguishers in mechanical rooms, stained and damaged comforters and mattress pads in guest rooms, motel was not following approved ice bucket washing procedures, black mold on bathtub grout in guest room, current license was not posted, spray bottles in laundry room were not labeled, electrical outlets near sinks in guest rooms were not GFCI protected, no light bulbs in vanity fixture in guest room, exposed light sockets, missing light bulb in vestibule between guest rooms, missing light bulb in mechanical room, no chlorine test strips on site, missing equipment in laundry room or mechanical rooms, light covers missing on outside light and mechanical room fixture, no soap at laundry room hand-washing sink, stained and damaged bed linens, hair on bed linens. Next inspection: June 20.
Walmart, 3030 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Three violations on June 9 during a routine inspection. Backflow prevention device was installed below foaming station in deli and meat department dishwashing areas, bacon was not kept cold enough, dishwashing machine temperatures were not hot enough. Next inspection: June 19.
Walmart Neighborhood Market, 1106 S. Rock Road in Derby — One violation on June 8 during a modified complaint inspection. Spilled bird seed on floor near rodent droppings. Next inspection: June 18.
Where to complain
If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint.
To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org.
To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event where food was served, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org.
Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint.
For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.
Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.
The violation summaries were compiled and drafted with the help of AI tools. They were fact-checked for accuracy and edited by Wichita Eagle journalists.
