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Grocery Store · Chicago, IL

Circle K

190 W Madison St

Last inspected Dec 4, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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The full inspection history

1 inspection

Complaint

Dec 4, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

12 recorded violations

notedCode 1Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues
notedCode 2Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues
notedCode 5Other

Official wording

PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED ALL NECESSARY ITEMS(DISINFECTANT EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS) NOT ON PREMISES FOR COMPLYING WITH PROCEDURE AVAILABLE ON SITE WHEN EMPLOYEES RESPOND TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW WHEN RESPONDING TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDWASHING SINK IN FRONT PREP AND FIRST FLOOR DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO POST CLEARLY VISIBLE SIGNAGE AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES THAT NOTIFIES FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

More about handwashing problems
notedCode 21Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED HOT TCS FOOD(HASH BROWN) HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 118.0-124.0F. INSTRUCTED ALL HOT TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 135F OR ABOVE. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $10 WEIGHING 0.25LBS. CONSOLIDATED WITH VIOLATION BELOW PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 22Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 54.3-59.4F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, MILK(59.2F), SAUSAGE CHEESE AND BACON ON BUN(57.7-58.1F), SAUSAGE, EGG AND CHEESE SANDWICH(55.6-55.9F), WESTERN STYLE OMELET WRAP(57.7-58.1F), RIB SANDWICH(57.6-57.7F), CHEESEBURGER(57.6-57.7F), BREAKFAST BURRITO(58.6-59.0F), CHICKEN CAESAR WRAP(58.5-58.6F), TURKEY CHEDDAR WRAP(56.8-58.6F), HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH(54.9-57.9F), CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH(58.5F), TUNA SALAD SANDWICH(58.1-58.5F), ALL AMERICAN SUB(54.9-59.4F), EGG SALAD SANDWICH(58.1-58.6F), VANILLA CREAMER(55.0F), HAM AND CHEESE LUNCHABLES(54.3-57.7F), CHEESE SAUCE(55.9-56.8F), TURKEY AND CHEESE LUNCHABLES(54.5-57.7F), CHEESE CURDS( 58.5-59.2F), TURKEY AND CHEESE SUB(57.7F), CHEESE AND MEAT SNACK(56.3F), YOGURT(55.6-56.2F) AND HALF AND HALF(56.5-57.1F) HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $1100 WEIGHING 70LBS. CONSOLIDATED WITH VIOLATION ABOVE PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 33Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED WALK IN/REACH IN COOLER AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 59.2F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON WALK IN/REACH IN COOLER. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED OPENING IN MIDDLE OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOUBLE DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR STORAGE AREA AND BOXES OF EQUIPMENT STORED ON FLOOR IN LARGE STORAGE AREA WITH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED WATER FLOWING FROM TOP OF FAUCET OF ONE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR FAUCET OF ONE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT. OBSERVED MISSING UTILITY SINK IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE MISSING UTILITY SINK IN BASEMENT AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT LARGE STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT WITH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE ALL MISSING CEILING TILES IN LARGE STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT WITH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 60Other

Official wording

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2566046 DATED 10/27/2022 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Dec 4, 2025 · Original Source

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