Famed John's Pizzeria closed by health department - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Visitors to John's of Bleeker Street in Manhattan's Greenwich Village were greeted with a yellow notice on Thursday.

The New York City Department closed the iconic pizza joint after finding a long list of health code violations.

According to the DOH website, the 83 year old eatery was closed for repeated  violations. They include flies, dirty food surfaces, evidence of mice and vermin-friendly conditions.

Johns is one of the three original coal-oven pizzerias in New York City.  It was founded by a baker who worked for Lombardis, often credited with popularizing pizza as we know it.

Johns is a favorite of New Yorkers and tourists.  One sad woman walked away empty handed after traveling from Kansas City to celebrate her birthday with a John's pizza.

Here is a list of the violations on the Health Department site:

Violations recorded in the following area (s), a Notice of Violation issued and establishment ordered closed by the Department of Health at the reinspection conducted on 12/11/2012.
"Critical" violations are displayed in red.
 
Violation points: 45

Sanitary Violations
1) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
2) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
3) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
4) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
5) Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.