List of Mall’s Vendors Plagued by Rats Grows

Fifteen of the 31 food vendors at the Beverly Center--six more than previously reported--face possible prosecution by the Los Angeles city attorney’s office for allegedly failing to rid their premises of rats and mice, county health officials said Tuesday.

The names of the establishments whose cases have been turned over to the city attorney cannot be disclosed because they are the subject of an investigation that could result in criminal charges, said Charles H. McMullen, a chief sanitarian with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

However, McMullen released on Tuesday the names of five Beverly Center food vendors who have been cited by health officials for rodent problems deemed not sufficiently serious to warrant referral to the city attorney.

McMullen said inspectors have found continuing evidence of rats and mice at the Mandarin Cove restaurant, the Irvine Ranch Farmers’ Market and Michel’s Baguette. Rodent problems spotted at Starky’s Deli and Truffles Chocolatier have since been cleared up, McMullen said. None of the problems at the five vendors warranted city attorney referral, he said.

Fashionable Shops

The Times reported Monday that a horde of hungry rats, apparently displaced by nearby construction projects, has invaded the massive, $100-million mall at Beverly and La Cienega boulevards, which houses some of the city’s most fashionable shops and restaurants.

The rodent problem has prompted the mall’s management to hire a Miami exterminating company to rid the 900,000-square-foot structure of the pests. The mall’s general manager has predicted that the rats will be gone within a month.

McMullen said inspectors have found no evidence of rodents at the following 11 establishments: California Pizza Kitchen, Hard Rock Cafe, Kisho-An, Pinafini, Siamese Orchid, Tramps, See’s Candies, General Nutrition Center, Godiva Chocolates, The Brownie Club and California Crisp.

Health officials on Tuesday said there are actually 31 food vendors operating at the Beverly Center under health department permits. Twenty-six are restaurants or fast-food outlets, three are candy stores, one is a health-food shop and one is a food market. Officials had previously said there were 27 food vendors at the mall.

Evidence of rodents has been found at 20 of the 31 establishments.

Case Added

McMullen said confusion over the number of cases referred for possible prosecution arose because five cases have already been before a city attorney hearing officer. Hearings in nine other cases were pending as of Monday morning, and an additional case was added Monday afternoon, he said.

After a hearing, the city attorney’s office will decide whether a vendor’s conduct warrants the filing of a misdemeanor criminal charge. No charges have been filed against any of the five whose cases have been heard.