Manhattan, NY — A Subway sandwich shop at 1502 Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 23, 2026, in which inspectors documented a live roach presence and multiple pest management failures, resulting in a score of 50 points — well into Grade C range. The restaurant subsequently passed a reinspection on July 29, 2026, and was reopened. This data was released by DOHMH on July 27, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the July 23 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one critical violation and four non-critical violations across several categories.

The critical violation — Code 04M — documented live roaches in the facility's food or non-food areas. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, the presence of live insects, including roaches, in a food service establishment constitutes a critical condition because of the direct risk of food contamination and the transmission of pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli.

Inspectors also cited two separate instances of Code 28-06, noting that the facility had no active contract with a licensed pest management professional and that no record of extermination activities was maintained on the premises. Under NYC Health Code requirements, food service establishments are required to maintain documentation of all pest control activities and to work with licensed exterminators.

An additional non-critical violation, Code 10B, was recorded for issues related to drainage, liquid waste disposal, or back-flow prevention — conditions that, while not immediately tied to the roach finding, can contribute to moisture environments that attract pests.

Inspectors also noted a violation of Code 19-06, related to the provision of single-use plastic straws to customers without a prior customer request, including at self-service stations. This violation reflects New York City's restrictions on non-compostable plastic straw distribution enacted under local law.

The combined score of 50 points placed the restaurant firmly in Grade C territory. Under the NYC restaurant grading system, any score of 28 or above results in a Grade C — the lowest posted letter grade. A score of 50 is nearly four times the threshold for a Grade A.

Food Safety Context

The presence of live roaches in a food service facility is treated as a critical violation under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code because live pests pose a direct contamination risk. Roaches can carry and transfer pathogens to food contact surfaces, equipment, and food itself. Their presence also typically indicates conditions — such as moisture, food debris, or structural gaps — that enable pest entry and harborage.

The dual citation of Code 28-06 compounds this concern. Without an active pest management contract or maintained extermination records, inspectors have no documented evidence that the facility was taking proactive steps to prevent or address a pest problem prior to their visit.

When inspectors document conditions serious enough to warrant closure, the facility is required to address the cited issues before DOHMH will authorize a reinspection and potential reopening. In this case, the Subway location at 1502 Saint Nicholas Avenue completed that process within six days.

Inspection History

The July 23, 2026, inspection represents a significant departure from this location's recent performance history. Prior inspections on record include:

  • July 29, 2026: Score 2 (Grade Z) — Reopened
  • July 23, 2026: Score 50 (Grade C) — Closed
  • October 25, 2024: Score 5 (Grade A)
  • May 4, 2023: Score 5 (Grade A)
  • January 24, 2023: Score 23 (Grade B)
  • September 27, 2022: Score 20

The two most recent pre-closure inspections in 2023 and 2024 each resulted in a Grade A with scores of 5 points — among the lower possible scores. The January 2023 inspection produced a Grade B at 23 points, and the September 2022 inspection recorded a score of 20. The July 2026 inspection score of 50 points is the highest recorded score for this location in the available inspection history.

The Grade Z designation on the July 29 reinspection reflects a score that falls in Grade A range (0 to 13 points) but is assigned during an active adjudication period while the establishment contests or resolves its violations.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires most food service establishments to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location. Grades are assigned based on the point score from the most recent scored inspection:

  • A: 0 to 13 points
  • B: 14 to 27 points
  • C: 28 points or more

Scores reflect the number and severity of violations found. Critical violations — those most directly tied to foodborne illness risk — carry greater point values than non-critical violations. A restaurant that receives a score in B or C range during an initial inspection may request a second inspection, after which the lower of the two scores is used for grading purposes.

Members of the public can look up current inspection scores and grades for any NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov.

More About This Restaurant

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