Popeyes Chicken Closed Due to Rats
WouterA Washington, DC Popeyes has closed its doors due to reports of rats in its kitchen. A video posted on TikTok by a man who delivers raw chicken to Popeyes locations revealed the rat infestation inside the restaurant. The video showed rats scurrying across the floor and climbing up the walls. By the end of the month, health inspectors from the District’s Department of Health and Human Services were on the premises, where they found droppings and openings in the ceiling.
Ricardo Land, a delivery guy at Popeyes restaurants in Washington, D.C., captured the footage and has since launched a GoFundMe to support himself. Ricardo Land claims he was suspended from work after he posted the video. He delivers raw chicken to several Popeyes locations in the DC area.
The video has more than 270,000 views and 340,000 likes. The owner of the Popeyes restaurant revoked his franchise license after the video was posted. The chicken delivery man who shot the video was suspended and later started a GoFundMe page, asking for $10,000 to support himself. The page was successful, raising nearly $30,000. In response to the video, the DC Health Department inspected the restaurant on Thursday.
The District of Columbia’s health department inspected Popeyes’ location three times this year and cited 17 violations. These included rat droppings near the grease bin, an improperly covered exterior door, and an out-of-order thermometer in the walk-in fridge and freezer. The violations were supposed to be corrected within 14 days, but the D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen subsequently revoked the franchise agreement of the Popeyes location in D.C.
