Manhattan, NY — Green Blend Eatery, a juice, smoothie, and fruit salad shop located at 387 8th Avenue in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a routine inspection conducted on March 20, 2026. The establishment received a score of 72, placing it well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C — the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
The closure was ordered after inspectors identified two critical violations at the establishment. Violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection.
What Inspectors Found
During the March 20 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented two critical violations at Green Blend Eatery:
Evidence of mice: Inspectors recorded evidence of mice or live mice present in the establishment's food or non-food areas (violation code 04L). The presence of rodents in a food service establishment represents a significant food safety concern, as mice can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas with pathogens including Salmonella and Hantavirus.
Improper wiping cloth storage: Inspectors also cited the establishment for wiping cloths that were not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses (violation code 06F). Wiping cloths that are not properly maintained between uses can become vectors for cross-contamination, spreading bacteria across food contact surfaces.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain their premises free of vermin, including mice and rats. The presence of rodent activity is classified as a critical violation because of the direct risk it poses to public health. The FDA Food Code similarly requires food establishments to implement effective pest control measures and to exclude pests from all areas of the operation.
Proper sanitization of wiping cloths is also mandated under both city and federal food safety guidelines. The FDA Food Code specifies that cloths used for wiping food contact surfaces must be stored in a sanitizing solution of appropriate concentration between uses, preventing the transfer of harmful bacteria from one surface to another.
A score of 72 points is notably high within the NYC inspection framework, where a score of 0 to 13 qualifies an establishment for a Grade A. Green Blend Eatery's score was more than five times the Grade A threshold, reflecting the severity of the conditions documented during the inspection.
When an establishment is closed by DOHMH, operators must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before being permitted to reopen to the public.
Inspection History
Green Blend Eatery's inspection record with DOHMH shows the following:
- March 23, 2026: Score 0, Grade Z — establishment reopened following closure
- March 20, 2026: Score 72, Grade C — establishment closed by DOHMH (2 critical violations)
- October 23, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
The establishment's prior inspection in October 2024 resulted in a score of 12, which qualified for a Grade A designation. The March 2026 inspection represented a significant departure from that prior result, with the score increasing by 60 points.
Notably, records indicate that Green Blend Eatery was able to reopen on March 23, 2026, just three days after the closure, after receiving a score of 0 on re-inspection. A score of 0 indicates that no violations were found at the time of re-inspection. The Grade Z designation in the data reflects that the re-inspection was an administrative follow-up rather than a standard graded inspection.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection opportunity. The grade posted in the restaurant's window reflects the best outcome from the inspection cycle. Critical violations carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations, reflecting the greater risk they pose to public health.
All restaurant inspection results are public record and are available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search inspection histories by restaurant name, address, or borough.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Green Blend Eatery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.