Grocery StoreLicence 2957230

Cottage Fuel

7560 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago 60619

Latest verdictPassMay 13, 2026 · 5 months ago

Inspections5since Mar 18, 2024

Fail rate40.0%2 of 5 verdictscitywide 22.4% · above average

City risk ratingHigh riskWhat this kind of business could do if it went wrong — not a grade it earned.

Read the pairs, not the count. A failure is normally followed within days by a re-inspection, and that re-inspection is a second row here. On the timeline below they sit almost on top of each other — one bad day, two marks.

The whole record

Pass40%
Conditional20%
Fail40%

5 inspections from 2024 to 2026 · hover a mark

20252026

PassMay 13, 2026Canvass Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 54
  Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
  5-501.12// observed outdoor storage space between building and orange shipping crate not organized. Noted boxes and crates scattered throughout enclosed space. Instructed to remove all unused unnecessary items from area to prevent pest harborage.
2. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  6-501.114// noted clutter on the floors in the dishroom/ storage area. Instructed to remove all unused, unnecessary items. All kept items are to be stored on proper shelving that is non-porous, smooth and easy to clean and a minimum of six inches off the ground.
3. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  6-304.11// observed dust buildup on ceiling ventilation fan inside washroom. Instructed to clean
4. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  2-102.13// observed no proof of training for all food handlers. Instructed to provide and maintain records on site at all times.
5. 58
  Allergen training as required
  2-102.13// observed no proof of allergern training for all certified food manager. Instructed any persons with the city of Chicago food sanitation certificate to comply with completion of training and provide and maintain documention on site at all times
FailApr 30, 2026CanvassRisk 1 (High)
1. 1
  Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
  Observed person in charge without proof of food safety management training during time of inspection. Must provide.
2. 2
  City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
  Observed facility without a valid city of Chicago food service sanitation certificate posted onsite for food employees. Instructed person in charge to obtain an original city of Chicago food service certificate and certificate must be posted, along with the certified manager being on site when time and temperature control for safety(tcs) foods are stored, prepared, cooked and served. Priority foundation violation #7-38-012. Citation issued.
3. 13
  Food in good condition, safe, & unadulterated
  Observed adulterated food. Noted 6 containers of salad with mold in deli display cooler. Manager discarded and denatured approx. 2 lbs valued at $42. Priority violation #7-40-050(a) citation issued
4. 22
  Proper cold holding temperatures
  Noted improper internal temperatures of the following time/temperature control for safety food items inside deli display cooler: ham 47.7 f, turkey 49.5 & 51.3 f, chicken 49.1 f, roast beef 48.2 f, eggs 47.4. Person in charge discarded remaining tcs drinks: protein yogurt smooties, and juice. Pic discarded and denatured approx. 68 lbs valued at $400. Priority violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.
5. 23
  Proper date marking and disposition
  Observed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety (tcs) foods (italian beef, ground beef, sandwiches) not date marked to indicate the product's name and date in which the food must be sold, discarded or consumed within 7 days. Instructed to provide proper labels for date marking and discard date for refrigerated, ready-to-eat, tcs foods held over 24hrs placed in all cold-holding units.vpriority foundation violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.
6. 33
  Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
  Noted improper cold-hold temperature of equipment. Ambient air recorded at 50.5 at start of inspection and 46.8 once display cooler was emptied. Informed pic that all refrigerator units shall maintain a proper temperature of 41 f and below. Refrigerator unit must not be used until reinspected by Chicago department of public health (cdph). Priority violation #7-38-005. Citation issued
7. 48
  Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
  Observed facility without a chemical test kit for chlorine sanitizer on site. Informed person in charge a test kit that accurately measures the concentration in mg/l of sanitizing solution must be provided. Priority foundation violation #7-38-005. Citation issued.
8. 54
  Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
  Observed outdoor storage space between building and orange shipping crate not organized. Noted boxes and crates scattered throughout enclosed space. Instructed to remove all unused unnecessary items from area to prevent pest harborage.
9. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Noted clutter on the floors in the dishroom/ storage area. Instructed to remove all unused, unnecessary items. All kept items are to be stored on proper shelving that is non-porous, smooth and easy to clean and a minimum of six inches off the ground.
10. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Observed dust buildup on ceiling ventilation fan inside washroom. Instructed to clean
11. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  Observed no proof of training for all food handlers. Instructed to provide and maintain records on site at all times.
12. 58
  Allergen training as required
  Observed no proof of allergern training for all certified food manager. Instructed any persons with the city of Chicago food sanitation certificate to comply with completion of training and provide and maintain documention on site at all times.
ConditionalAug 11, 2025Complaint Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 1
  Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
  Observed no person in charge with valid Chicago food sanitation certificate. Instructed manager to designate person in charge during all hours of operation. Priority foundation
2. 2
  City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
  Observed no Chicago food sanitation manager on site when tcs food (ground beef 180.2f) prepared and served. A Chicago food sanitation manager must be on site and valid certificate posted at all times tcs food prepared and served. Priority foundation 7-38-012 citation issued
3. 36
  Thermometers provided & accurate
  Observed missing thermometers inside coolers. Instructed manager to provide and maintain.
4. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Observed 1/4" gap under front door. Instructed manager to seal all outer openings on door to prevent pest entry.
5. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  Observed food items stored on floor in prep and storage areas. Instructed manager to elevate all food items six inches off floor.
6. 41
  Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
  Observed soiled wiping cloths stored on prep table. Instructed manager to store wiping cloths in sanitizing solution between uses.
7. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed raw wood surfaces under oven and raw wood shelving in rear storage area. Instructed manager to seal all raw wood surfaces to make smooth and easily cleanable.
8. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Observed dust buildup on ventilation fan inside washroom and debris on floors along walls and corners in prep, washroom, storage, and office areas. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.
FailAug 4, 2025ComplaintRisk 1 (High)
1. 1
  Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
  Observed no person in charge with valid Chicago food sanitation certificate. Instructed manager to designate person in charge during all hours of operation. Priority foundation
2. 2
  City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
  Observed no Chicago food sanitation manager on site when tcs food (ground beef 180.2f) prepared and served. A Chicago food sanitation manager must be on site and valid certificate posted at all times tcs food prepared and served. Priority foundation 7-38-012 citation issued
3. 5
  Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
  Observed no procedures and supplies for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events. Instructed manager to provide and maintain. Priority foundation 7-38-005 citation issued
4. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed no hand washng signs at hand washing sinks. Instructed manager to provide hand washing signs at all hand washing sinks used by employees.
5. 36
  Thermometers provided & accurate
  Observed missing thermometers inside coolers. Instructed manager to provide and maintain.
6. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Observed fly strips hanging from ceiling in prep and dish washing areas. Instructed manager to remove all fly strips from prep and dish washing areas.
7. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Observed 1/4" gap under front door. Instructed manager to seal all outer openings on door to prevent pest entry.
8. 39
  Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
  Observed food items stored on floor in prep and storage areas. Instructed manager to elevate all food items six inches off floor.
9. 41
  Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
  Observed soiled wiping cloths stored on prep table. Instructed manager to store wiping cloths in sanitizing solution between uses.
10. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed no stoppers for 3-compartment sink. Instructed manager to provide adequate stoppers and maintain.
11. 47
  Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
  Observed raw wood surfaces under oven and raw wood shelving in rear storage area. Instructed manager to seal all raw wood surfaces to make smooth and easily cleanable.
12. 48
  Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
  Observed no chemical test kit available. Instructed manager to provide test kit for proper concentration in sanitizing solutions. Priority foundation 7-38-005 citation issued
13. +1 more
PassMar 18, 2024LicenseRisk 1 (High)
1. 54
  Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
  Observed the outside area with debris and trash inside/outside and around the corral. Instructed to clean and maintain the area.

Fails sit above the line, passes below. Every inspection the city has published for this licence.

On the street

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What it gets cited for

554×
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
543×
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
13×
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
23×
City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
383×
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
473×
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
562×
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
572×
All food employees have food handler training

Counted across every inspection on record here. A code that keeps coming back is the more telling signal.

Source

Published by the Chicago Department of Public Health as Food Inspections, updated weekly. This page shows every row the city holds under licence 2957230 — a business that changed hands may carry history from its predecessor.