Magnolia Bakery reopens week after failed health inspection

Magnolia Bakery’s Chicago location has reopened this week after passing a follow-up health inspection Tuesday, days after the popular Loop bakery was closed for health code violations, including pest-related issues.

The bakery, on the first floor of the Block 37 shopping mall at 108 N. State St., was categorized as “risk 1 (high)” following a failed health inspection July 13. Inspectors found live and dead cockroaches and “approximately 100 or more live small flies flying around” in prep areas, under sinks and inside storage cabinets, according to city data.

City health inspectors found 13 live cockroaches “crawling in between cracks and crevices” and “numerous” other dead cockroaches in the same areas, according to city data.

“The Magnolia Bakery team has been working nonstop on a corrective plan of action to reopen our doors,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “We are pleased to report that we have reopened as of Tuesday, July 21 and have been thrilled to see so many of you again.”

Inspectors last week flagged other violations, including that the bakery’s hand-washing sinks were not properly supplied and accessible, and the staff bathroom sink drained too slowly. They also identified a gap along the bottom center of the bake shop’s street-side double doors that could allow more insects to get inside.

Inspectors also found that food debris had accumulated in food mixers, a walk-in cooler, storage shelves and on the exterior of a grease trap in the basement. Also noted were dust buildup from ceiling vents in the bathrooms and dining area.

The bakery was required to complete pest control measures and address the other violations before another city inspection could be conducted.

Block 37 is the bakery’s sole Chicago location. It opened in 2011 and is known for its creamy banana pudding and “Carrie” cupcakes, named after the “Sex and the City” character played by Sarah Jessica Parker.

Contributing: Ambar Colón