Florida ordered 11 restaurant closures in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay since July
Florida inspectors ordered 11 emergency closures at 10 restaurants in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties from July 1 to Oct. 30, 2026, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). All 10 reopened after a return inspection found the violations corrected, most of them the next day. Eight of the 11 orders came from inspections that started with a complaint from the public.
The 11 orders are a small share of the 1,689 food service inspections DBPR made in the four counties in that period, less than 1%. Bay County had four of the places, Walton three, Okaloosa two and Santa Rosa one.
Which Emerald Coast restaurants did Florida close since July?
These are the emergency orders in DBPR’s inspection file for the state fiscal year that began July 1, with the date of the return visit that allowed each place to reopen. Names are the business names on the state license.
| Business (state license) | Town | Closed | Reopened |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hub Family Restaurant | Crestview | Jul 14 | Jul 15 |
| Subway (900 S. Palm Blvd.) | Niceville | Jul 20 | Jul 21 |
| Jaaskitchen | Panama City Beach | Aug 13 | Aug 18 |
| Mosey's Downtown | Panama City | Aug 21 | Aug 21 |
| Bistrology LLC | Miramar Beach | Aug 21 | Aug 22 |
| Red Star Chinese One Inc. | Lynn Haven | Aug 26 | Aug 27 |
| Waffle Shoppe | Panama City | Aug 27 | Aug 28 |
| Rivero's Street Destin | Freeport | Sep 1 | Sep 2 |
| El Chavo Street Tacos | Pace | Sep 15 | Sep 16 |
| Panhandlers | Santa Rosa Beach | Oct 6 | Oct 8 |
| Rivero's Street Destin | Freeport | Oct 20 | Oct 21 |
One place, Rivero’s Street Destin, a license at 130 Marquis Way E. in Freeport, had two emergency orders: on Sept. 1 and Oct. 20, 2026. It reopened after return visits on Sept. 2 and Oct. 21, per DBPR.
What makes the state close a restaurant?
DBPR recommends an emergency order when an inspector finds “conditions that endanger the health and safety of the public,” according to the agency’s definitions. The place must close immediately. It reopens when a return inspection finds the problems fixed, which DBPR records as “Emergency Order Callback Complied.”
Every closure on the Emerald Coast this period involved at least one violation at the inspection that led to it, and 10 of the 11 included at least one high priority violation, the most serious level for food safety. The specific findings, such as the food, the temperature or the pest problem, are written in each official report.
How fast do closed restaurants reopen?
On the Emerald Coast, fast. Of the 11 closures from July 1 to Oct. 30, 2026:
- 1 place reopened the same day, after a second visit.
- 8 reopened the next day.
- 1 reopened two days later.
- 1 reopened five days later.
A quick reopening means the owner fixed what the inspector found and asked for the return visit. It does not erase the record: both the closure and the reopening stay in the state’s public file.
Do complaints lead to closures?
Yes, more often than routine visits. From July 1 to Oct. 30, 2026, complaint inspections were 272 of the 1,689 inspections in the four counties, about 16%, but they produced 8 of the 11 emergency orders, per DBPR. The other three came from routine inspections: Subway at 900 S. Palm Blvd. in Niceville on July 20, El Chavo Street Tacos in Pace on Sept. 15 and Panhandlers in Santa Rosa Beach on Oct. 6.
Most complaints do not end in a closure. Half of the complaint inspections, 136, ended with no further action.
Is a closure the worst result?
It is the most immediate one, but not the only serious one. DBPR also recommended 53 administrative complaints in the four counties from July 1 to Oct. 30, 2026. DBPR takes that step when inspectors find high priority violations, or when a place did not fix violations by the follow-up, to secure compliance. Those places stay open while the case moves forward.
As of each place’s latest inspection in the file, none of the 1,356 inspected places on the Emerald Coast was listed as closed.
How do I check a restaurant before I go?
Search the business name or license number in DBPR’s license and inspection records, linked from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants public records page. The full report lists each violation.
The Emerald Coast Dispatch “Where to eat” guide shows the latest state result for every inspected place in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties and flags any place under a closure order. It is updated when DBPR publishes a new file.
How do I report a restaurant?
Use DBPR’s online complaint form for restaurants and food service, or call the Customer Contact Center at (850) 487-1395. DBPR notes that what it receives is public record unless a state law exemption applies. If someone is seriously ill after eating, call 911 or a doctor first.
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Questions and answers
- How many restaurants were closed by the state on the Emerald Coast in 2026?
- Florida DBPR ordered 11 emergency closures at 10 restaurants in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties from July 1 to Oct. 30, 2026. All 10 reopened after a return inspection found the violations corrected.
- Why does Florida close a restaurant?
- DBPR recommends an emergency order when an inspector finds conditions that endanger the health and safety of the public. The place must close immediately and can reopen when a return inspection finds the problems fixed.
- How long do closed restaurants stay closed in Florida?
- Until a return inspection finds the violations corrected. On the Emerald Coast from July 1 to Oct. 30, 2026, 9 of 11 closed places reopened the same day or the next day, per DBPR records.
- How do I report a restaurant to Florida DBPR?
- Use DBPR's online complaint form for restaurants and food service, or call the Customer Contact Center at (850) 487-1395.