SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Joe’s Crab Shack was shortly shut down by the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health, after a sewage leak prompted health officials to shut it down immediately, according to the Port of San Diego.
The restaurant, which has been serving seafood on the Embarcadero since 2002, was originally scheduled to close later this month. But the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality ordered it to stop operating Friday, citing an “imminent health hazard.”
The Port of San Diego told FOX 5/KUSI that field operations staff discovered a sewage leak outside the restaurant on Aug. 6. The Port directed the restaurant to cease operations and issued a written citation. The violation was reported to county health officials, who ordered the closure.
The Port’s statement said the operator must complete repairs and pass a county reinspection before reopening. No water quality advisories or closures have been issued for San Diego Bay. Health officials also confirmed it could not resume service until the issue is resolved.
Some customers meanwhile said they were shocked to hear the news.
“Oh my gosh, that’s pretty sad,” San Diego resident Jennifer Green said. “Everyone is going to be very disappointed. It’s a great affordable restaurant where we can get seafood right on the water.”
Joe’s Crab Shack’s early closure marks the end of its more than two-decade run as a bayfront dining destination.
Robyn Dorboa is a tourist and was visiting San Diego this weekend. She mentioned she has Crab Shack back home in Chicago and said she really enjoys the food but was also shocked to hear the news.
“Of course no one should be dumping sewage anywhere except in the sewer and if it was accidental or something, I don’t know what the situation was but if they are doing it on a regular basis they absolutely should be fined and closed probably,” she said.
The general manager was on site at the time of our visit, however he declined to speak with FOX 5/KUSI.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
