September 29 — Five months following a rodent problem that led to its shutdown, Whole Foods in Cupertino reopened on Monday, bringing joy to numerous customers.

Although many locals were eager about the store’s comeback, some questioned if the problems that led to its shutdown had been fully resolved.

“I’m a local. I really like this store — but I hope the rats are gone,” said Cupertino resident Mina Tahera, reflecting the excitement mixed with worry shared by many customers on Monday when the Whole Foods reopened.

Environmental health inspectors from the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health initially identified issues at the Whole Foods store located at 20955 Steven Creek Blvd. during an inspection toward the end of March, which led to the temporary shutdown of the deli and bakery sections. During the inspection, they discovered rodent feces in multiple locations within the deli, such as the food preparation and equipment storage areas. Additionally, they observed cockroaches in various developmental stages in the bakery area near the dishwasher, along with two dead cockroaches behind a wire rack that held dishes.

Later in early April, inspectors came back and noted new rodent droppings in the rear kitchen “along the walls and beneath the equipment,” which prompted them to shut down the store until there was no longer any sign of a rodent problem.

On September 9 and 10, the local health department carried out two inspections and found no signs of rodent activity, allowing the store to reopen.

As per the inspection report, the store cut back trees that were near the building, added door seals, and addressed structural problems — such as openings beneath the sinks in the women’s restroom and the wall in the men’s restroom — to stop rodents from getting inside. They also cleaned and disinfected the store’s surfaces.

This location has been the dirtiest for a decade,” said Homa Babaei outside of Whole Foods, detailing multiple issues regarding hygiene, especially concerning food handling in the store’s deli. “I hope they didn’t bring on the same staff.

A representative from Whole Foods did not respond to inquiries about staff changes, but stated that the store had fully resolved all issues noted by the health department and implemented significant upgrades.

A statement from the county health department highlighted that pest control reports and in-person inspections found no “evidence of rodents” in the store.

Several customers were just happy that it was operating. “Everyone was okay. No one was worried,” said Cupertino resident Jackie Jackson about the health code issues. “I like it. It’s good that it’s open.”

In addition to health-related upgrades, the store also carried out “extensive building maintenance, improved the parking lot, and updated finishes and furniture inside the store and outside,” which caused delays in its reopening schedule, as stated by a Whole Foods representative, Nathan Cimbala, in a release earlier this month.

“It required an update,” stated Cupertino resident Mark Vanni, mentioning that the parking area was particularly “in disrepair,” and he added that the closure was “somewhat bothersome” because it was his nearest grocery store.

As stated in a message released earlier this month by Marilyn Underwood, the Director of the Department of Environmental Health, “Whole Foods employees collaborated closely” with the health department to implement necessary corrections. Although no additional inspections are scheduled, the county will keep an eye on the Whole Foods through surprise visits.

Stephanie Lam contributed reporting.

First Published: September 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM PDT

© 2025 Silicon Valley, San Jose, California. Visitwww.bootstrap4u.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The post Rats Gone, Doors Open: South Bay Whole Foods Reopens After Infestation appeared first on FondTimes.