Staten Island, NY — Gutierrez Bakery, a Latin American bakery at 157 Port Richmond Avenue, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a March 3, 2026 inspection that resulted in a score of 122 points. The score far exceeds the 28-point threshold for a grade C, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.

Inspectors documented three critical violations and two non-critical violations during the inspection, leading to the immediate closure of the establishment.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection identified several conditions that prompted the closure action.

Inspectors documented the presence of live cockroaches in the facility's food and non-food areas, a critical violation under code 04M. The presence of live roaches is one of the most heavily weighted violations in the NYC inspection scoring system and can by itself trigger an establishment closure when combined with other critical findings.

A second critical violation, cited under code 06C, noted that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. This violation also covers condiments not stored in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, indicating gaps in how food products were being handled and stored at the bakery.

Inspectors also cited the establishment under code 06B for tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from open containers in food preparation, food storage, or dishwashing areas. This critical violation indicates that staff were engaging in activities in food handling zones that introduce contamination risks.

Two non-critical violations were also recorded. The bakery failed to conspicuously post required healthy eating information, a violation of code 20-08. Additionally, inspectors noted the absence of required safety postings, including a "Choking first aid" poster, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and resuscitation equipment signage for exhaled air resuscitation masks and latex gloves, cited under code 20-04.

Food Safety Context

The violations documented at Gutierrez Bakery relate to several provisions of NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments in the city. Article 81 requires that all food contact surfaces, equipment, and supplies be protected from contamination at all stages of handling, and that food preparation areas remain free from activities unrelated to food service.

The presence of live cockroaches is addressed under both city and federal food safety frameworks. The FDA Food Code classifies pest activity in food service areas as a priority violation due to the risk of pathogenic contamination. Cockroaches are known vectors for bacteria including Salmonella and E. coli, and their presence in a food establishment indicates conditions that may support continued pest activity, such as inadequate sanitation or structural gaps.

A score of 122 points reflects the cumulative weight of the violations found. Under the NYC grading system, each violation carries a point value based on its severity and the specific condition observed. Critical violations related to pest activity and food contamination typically carry the highest individual point values.

Inspection History

The March 3 closure was not the bakery's first encounter with significant inspection findings. The establishment's recent inspection record includes:

  • January 20, 2026: Score of 69 points, Grade N (grade pending adjudication)

A Grade N designation indicates the establishment received a score that did not qualify for an A grade during an initial inspection, and the grade was pending the outcome of a re-inspection or adjudicatory hearing. The subsequent March inspection resulted in a substantially higher score and the closure action.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026, two days after the on-site inspection was conducted.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest risk, fewest violations)
  • B: 14–27 points (moderate violations noted)
  • C: 28 or more points (significant violations documented)

Gutierrez Bakery's score of 122 points places it well above the grade C threshold. Establishments that are closed by DOHMH must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before they are permitted to reopen to the public.

Residents can look up inspection results for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly and accessible to the public. The database provides current and historical inspection scores, violation details, and grade histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Gutierrez Bakery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.