Brooklyn, NY — Wake Up Coffee Shop, located at 1202 Kings Highway in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 13, 2026. Inspectors documented a critical food safety violation related to contamination protection, resulting in the establishment's closure despite a relatively low score of 10 points.

The closure marks the second time in less than two weeks that the coffee and tea establishment has been closed by health authorities, following a prior closure on March 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 13 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at Wake Up Coffee Shop:

Food contamination protection failure (Code 06C): Inspectors found that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Additionally, condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

This violation addresses a fundamental food safety requirement — that all food items and food-contact surfaces must be shielded from environmental contaminants, cross-contamination, and unsanitary conditions throughout the entire handling process. The condiment-related portion of the citation indicates that shared or open condiment containers were accessible in a manner that could introduce contamination from multiple customers or environmental sources.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection. The establishment received a score of 10 points, which under normal circumstances would correspond to an A grade. However, the nature of the critical violation required immediate corrective action, and the establishment was closed by DOHMH pending resolution.

Food Safety Context

The protection of food from contamination is a cornerstone requirement under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. These regulations mandate that food establishments maintain proper barriers between food products and potential contaminant sources at all stages of handling.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to store, prepare, and display food in a manner that prevents contamination from environmental sources, improper handling, or cross-contact with allergens and pathogens. The FDA Food Code further specifies that condiments provided for customer self-service must be in individual packages, dispensed from protected containers, or served directly by food workers to prevent repeated customer contact with shared containers.

Contamination protection failures can create pathways for foodborne illness through bacterial transfer, chemical contamination, or physical hazards reaching food products. In a coffee shop setting, this can involve improperly stored food items near cleaning chemicals, uncovered food products exposed to airborne contaminants, or shared condiment stations that allow cross-contamination between customers.

The decision to close an establishment, even one with a low numerical score, reflects the severity and immediacy of the risk posed by the documented conditions. DOHMH inspectors have the authority to close any establishment where conditions present an imminent health hazard, regardless of the overall point total.

Inspection History

Wake Up Coffee Shop's recent inspection record shows a pattern of escalating enforcement actions:

  • March 13, 2026: Score 10, closed by DOHMH — critical food contamination protection violation
  • March 2, 2026: Score 57 (Grade N), closed by DOHMH
  • December 17, 2025: Score 67 (Grade N)

The March 2 closure, which occurred just 11 days before the most recent inspection, resulted from a significantly higher violation score of 57 points. A Grade N designation indicates that the inspection was conducted but a letter grade had not yet been assigned, typically because the establishment was in a re-inspection cycle.

The December 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 67 points, also receiving a Grade N designation. The substantial decrease from 67 to 57 to 10 points across three consecutive inspections suggests that the establishment has made measurable progress in addressing previously documented violations, though the critical contamination issue identified on March 13 still warranted closure.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:

  • A: 0 to 13 points — indicates minimal violations
  • B: 14 to 27 points — indicates moderate violations
  • C: 28 or more points — indicates significant violations

Lower scores reflect fewer and less severe violations. While Wake Up Coffee Shop's score of 10 would typically fall within the A range, the presence of conditions requiring immediate corrective action resulted in the establishment's closure regardless of the numerical score.

Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before being permitted to reopen. The establishment's Grade N designation from prior inspections indicates it has been operating within an active re-inspection cycle.

Public Resources

This inspection data is public record, released by DOHMH on March 17, 2026, four days after the inspection was conducted. Consumers can verify restaurant inspection results through the NYC DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the letter grade posted at the establishment's entrance once it reopens.

Residents with food safety concerns about any New York City restaurant can contact DOHMH by calling 311 or filing a complaint through the NYC 311 website.

More About This Restaurant

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