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Super 88 food court closed for months after ‘heavy rodent activity’ and plumbing issues
City of Boston health inspectors visited the property in June and found a rat infestation and unsanitary conditions in the food court.
The Super 88 Market food court and its several vendors have been closed for months after a health inspection found a rat infestation and unsanitary conditions inside the food court in June.
On June 4 and 5, the City of Boston’s Inspectional Services Department staff visited the food stalls individually for routine sanitary inspections of the businesses. Ali’s Uyghur Kitchen, Chili Bento, Grasshopper Vegan Restaurant, Hello Yummy, Pho Express, and Poke Boys each failed their inspections, though Isshindo Ramen and the Hong Kong Supermarket grocer — located on the other side of the property — didn’t receive a fail and remain open, according to city documents.
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Some of the restaurants that failed their inspections received the same marks against them: grease buildup and “soils” on equipment, “heavy rodent activity,” and food safety issues. They were directed to “voluntarily close.”
ISD said the rat infestation was found within food court business stalls and the food court’s common area, but not at Isshindou Ramen or the supermarket.
Ali Nu, an Uyghur entrepreneur who runs Ali’s Uyghur Kitchen inside the Super 88, said the conditions at the longtime Asian food hall are unacceptable, and he blamed the owner of the Super 88 business for the rodent and maintenance issues.
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“They were supposed to fix this… and they’re not doing it,” Nu said about Hong Kong Management, the company that owns multiple Hong Kong Marketplace grocery stores across the country and the Super 88 food court. “It’s a very small amount of work.”
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The repairs that are needed are related to plumbing, Nu said.
ISD also told the food court businesses to hire a licensed plumber after the property failed a smoke test. Smoke entered in through three different areas around the food court, which could be entry points for rodents, ISD said.
Nu told Boston.com that he felt like Super 88 management was dragging its feet on getting the necessary repairs done, and in doing so has kept multiple vendors and their staff out of work.
“We cannot survive five months without income when you have to pay your rent and staff,” Nu said.
Boston.com reached out to the other vendors but didn’t hear back in time for publication.
ISD said they are still waiting on notification that the plumbing and building work has been completed, at which point the department can then “conduct a re-inspection of the businesses to ensure that all sanitary code violations have been remedied.”
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In a phone interview with Burnie Wo, the Super 88 manager, he said he’s trying to reopen the food court as soon as possible but has faced delays due to shortages in plumbing parts. He denied any claims that Super 88 management was dragging its feet on reopening and said it’s the responsibility of both Super 88 and its vendors to keep up with maintenance.
The building in Allston is owned by Boston real estate business The Hamilton Company, which owns many residential and commercial properties in the city.
The Hamilton Company said in an emailed statement was “working diligently to cure the deficiencies identified and is hoping to resume operations as soon as possible.”
