The neighboring businesses at 4404 Park Boulevard were ordered to temporarily close following a health inspection on October 22, 2026, according to a public statement issued by owners Steven Torres and Gan Suebsarakham. Inspectors reportedly discovered pest droppings in several areas, prompting the closure of both establishments because they share a health permit.
In a hospitality industry where temporary health department closures often go publicly unacknowledged by operators, the owners addressed the situation directly on social media, providing an explanation before the inspection findings had even appeared in San Diego County's publicly accessible food inspection database.
"We take full responsibility. We expect better of ourselves, and we know you do, too," the owners stated.
Torres and Suebsarakham explained that their restaurants maintain established cleaning procedures, preventative pest control measures and routine professional inspections. According to their statement, their pest control provider had inspected the property just one day before the county visit and reported no evidence of pest activity.
Nevertheless, county inspectors subsequently identified droppings, and the owners acknowledged that their existing preventative measures had not been sufficient.
"Our team is addressing the findings and strengthening our preventative practices," the statement continued. The businesses anticipated reopening the following morning, October 23, pending clearance from county health officials. As of publication, that clearance had not been independently confirmed.
The owners also sought to reassure customers that the company's pies and ice cream are manufactured at separate centralized production facilities, with pies baked fresh daily at its retail shops. That distinction provides context about the company's production practices, although it does not diminish the importance of maintaining sanitary conditions at individual storefronts.
The disclosure is particularly notable given the company's generally favorable inspection history. San Diego County records show that the original University Heights Pop Pie Co. earned an A grade with a score of 98 during its February 4, 2026 routine inspection. That visit identified deficiencies involving nonfood contact surfaces and the condition of floors, walls and ceilings, but no vermin violation.
Other company locations have also consistently received A grades. The Carlsbad shop earned a perfect 100 in April 2026, while the South Park location scored 98 in April 2026 and recorded consecutive perfect scores during two inspections in 2025.
However, the company's history is not entirely without pest-related concerns. In February 2026, San Diego County health inspectors ordered the Pacific Beach Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean's location at 829 Garnet Avenue closed after documenting a major vermin violation and other sanitation deficiencies. The businesses subsequently passed reinspection and reopened.
At the time, Torres responded to SanDiegoVille's reporting, explaining that the company worked with licensed pest control providers and had implemented additional cleaning, monitoring and pest exclusion measures.
"We own it, we learn from it," Torres said in February, emphasizing the company's commitment to transparency and prevention.
More recently, an August 18 inspection at the company's Point Loma location documented a minor vermin violation, along with other deficiencies. That establishment nevertheless received an A grade with a score of 95 and was not ordered closed.
These records demonstrate that the company has generally maintained passing inspection grades while also experiencing recurring pest-related findings at multiple locations. Importantly, an A grade does not necessarily mean a restaurant received a violation-free inspection.
The latest University Heights closure was not yet reflected on the county's publicly accessible SD Food Info database when reviewed for this report. Consequently, the specific violations, official inspection classification and conditions for reopening remain unverified beyond the owners' public statement.
Founded in 2016, Pop Pie Co. has expanded from its original University Heights storefront into a growing Southern California restaurant group alongside sister brand Stella Jean's Ice Cream. The concepts are operated by Sweet & Savory Collective, which has also announced plans to bring both businesses to La Mesa Village.
Temporary health closures are an important component of San Diego County's food safety enforcement system, and restaurants must receive appropriate clearance before resuming operations. The presence of pest droppings warrants corrective action, regardless of a business's reputation or previous inspection grades.
What distinguishes this incident is not the violation itself but the owners' decision to disclose it publicly, acknowledge responsibility and explain their intended response. While the health department will ultimately determine when the restaurants are safe to reopen, the company's willingness to communicate openly provides a welcome example of accountability in an industry where such disclosures remain uncommon.
Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean's Ice Cream are located at 4404 Park Boulevard in San Diego's University Heights neighborhood. Their reopening remains subject to county health department approval.
For more information, visit poppieco.com and stellajeans.com.
Other company locations have also consistently received A grades. The Carlsbad shop earned a perfect 100 in April 2026, while the South Park location scored 98 in April 2026 and recorded consecutive perfect scores during two inspections in 2025.
However, the company's history is not entirely without pest-related concerns. In February 2026, San Diego County health inspectors ordered the Pacific Beach Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean's location at 829 Garnet Avenue closed after documenting a major vermin violation and other sanitation deficiencies. The businesses subsequently passed reinspection and reopened.
At the time, Torres responded to SanDiegoVille's reporting, explaining that the company worked with licensed pest control providers and had implemented additional cleaning, monitoring and pest exclusion measures.
"We own it, we learn from it," Torres said in February, emphasizing the company's commitment to transparency and prevention.
More recently, an August 18 inspection at the company's Point Loma location documented a minor vermin violation, along with other deficiencies. That establishment nevertheless received an A grade with a score of 95 and was not ordered closed.
These records demonstrate that the company has generally maintained passing inspection grades while also experiencing recurring pest-related findings at multiple locations. Importantly, an A grade does not necessarily mean a restaurant received a violation-free inspection.
The latest University Heights closure was not yet reflected on the county's publicly accessible SD Food Info database when reviewed for this report. Consequently, the specific violations, official inspection classification and conditions for reopening remain unverified beyond the owners' public statement.
Founded in 2016, Pop Pie Co. has expanded from its original University Heights storefront into a growing Southern California restaurant group alongside sister brand Stella Jean's Ice Cream. The concepts are operated by Sweet & Savory Collective, which has also announced plans to bring both businesses to La Mesa Village.
Temporary health closures are an important component of San Diego County's food safety enforcement system, and restaurants must receive appropriate clearance before resuming operations. The presence of pest droppings warrants corrective action, regardless of a business's reputation or previous inspection grades.
What distinguishes this incident is not the violation itself but the owners' decision to disclose it publicly, acknowledge responsibility and explain their intended response. While the health department will ultimately determine when the restaurants are safe to reopen, the company's willingness to communicate openly provides a welcome example of accountability in an industry where such disclosures remain uncommon.
Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean's Ice Cream are located at 4404 Park Boulevard in San Diego's University Heights neighborhood. Their reopening remains subject to county health department approval.
For more information, visit poppieco.com and stellajeans.com.
Originally published on October 23, 2026.
