Temporary closure of Santa Rosa’s Pacific Market to address rodent problem

Pacific Market in Santa Rosa closed for much of Friday for a “deep cleaning,” a move requested by county public health officials who visited the store a few weeks ago and found evidence of rodents inside the facility, according the store’s manager.

Joe Buttwill said recent work on the store’s roof caused “entry points” for pests to get into the store. He said county health officials visited the popular market three or four weeks ago to do an inspection.

Buttwill said the store has brought out pest control specialists to get address the problem and the closure Friday was to carry out a final and inspection to make sure everything is safe and sanitary. The store reopened Friday evening.

“We’re doing a cleaning right now, making sure everything is up to par and up to code,” he said Friday afternoon.

At noon, visitors to the store were met by yellow caution tape and signs that read, “Unfortunately we are closed due to a store project” and an apology for the inconvenience.

Buttwell said he was told by pest specialists that last year’s wildfire caused a “migration” of rodents into the neighborhood, which lies south west of Fountaingrove.

County public health officials could not be reached Friday afternoon.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.