Brooklyn, NY — Hero Shop, located at 1211 McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn's Kensington neighborhood, received a score of 49 during a health inspection conducted on March 20, 2026, placing it in the Grade C range under New York City's restaurant grading system. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released the inspection data on March 25, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March 20 inspection: Code 04L, which records evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. No non-critical violations were cited.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation due to the potential for contamination of food, food-contact surfaces, and equipment. Mice can carry pathogens including Salmonella and Leptospira, and their presence in a food preparation environment presents a direct risk to food safety.

Critical violations are weighted more heavily in the DOHMH scoring system than non-critical violations, which is reflected in the restaurant's score of 49 — well above the Grade C threshold of 28 points.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments to maintain premises free of pests, including rodents, and to take active measures to prevent their entry and harboring. Establishments are expected to maintain sealed entry points, eliminate food and water sources that could attract pests, and engage licensed pest control services as needed.

The FDA Food Code similarly categorizes rodent evidence as a priority violation, reflecting the direct connection between pest activity and foodborne illness risk. A score of 49 indicates a substantial number of points attributed to a single critical finding, underscoring the weight assigned to this category of violation.

Inspections are unannounced, and scores represent conditions observed on the day of the visit. Establishments have the right to request a re-inspection before a grade is issued and posted.

Inspection History

Hero Shop's inspection record shows variability over the past several years. Prior results include:

  • November 4, 2024: Score 8 (Grade A)
  • August 30, 2023: Score 3 (Grade P — grade pending re-inspection)
  • August 28, 2023: Score 14
  • August 25, 2023: Score 35
  • August 22, 2023: Score 62 — closed by DOHMH
  • November 14, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • October 27, 2022: Score 48

The record indicates the establishment has previously experienced a period of significant inspection activity, including a closure in August 2023 following a score of 62. That closure was followed by a series of re-inspections over several days before operations resumed. The restaurant subsequently achieved a Grade A with a score of 8 in November 2024, before the current inspection returned a Grade C result in March 2026.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following each inspection cycle based on the total point score:

  • A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: Score of 14–27 points
  • C: Score of 28 or more points

Grades must be posted in a window visible to the public. Restaurants that score above 13 on an initial inspection are re-inspected before a grade is finalized and posted. A grade of C indicates the highest level of violations observed under the city's scoring system.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov. Residents can search any establishment by name, address, or cuisine type to review current and historical inspection data.

More About This Restaurant

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