After five months of closure that turned a routine grocery run into a local curiosity, the Cupertino Whole Foods is finally cleared to reopen—but the company says it’s staying shut a bit longer for renovations. The high-profile shutdown became one of the most scrutinized vermin cases in recent Bay Area memory, highlighting California’s evolving approach to pest control in an era of new wildlife protection laws.
Santa Clara County health inspectors gave the all-clear on September 10, concluding that Silicon Valley Business Journal reported “no evidence of rodent infestation” remained at the Stevens Creek Boulevard location. But don’t rush over with your reusable bags just yet—Whole Foods says it’s keeping the doors locked while putting finishing touches on what the company calls a comprehensive makeover.
The closure saga began in late March when county inspectors discovered what would become the stuff of local legend: a roof rat in the deli and German roaches in the bakery. By April, the situation had spiraled into a full-scale infestation with rodent droppings scattered throughout the produce section, receiving areas, and food preparation zones.
From Roof Rats to Renovations
According to San Francisco Chronicle, the March inspection that started it all uncovered “an adult female roof rat” lurking in the deli and German cockroaches “of all life stages” near the bakery’s dishwasher. What followed was a cascade of violations that ultimately forced the county to suspend the store’s operating permit, deeming the situation an “imminent threat to health and safety.”…