On September 19, the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) took an unexpected step by closing down the room service kitchen at the Bellagio, a prominent MGM Resorts property on the Las Vegas Strip. The health district cited a significant Imminent Health Hazard caused by sewage or liquid waste backing up out of the floor drains. Similarly, Mangia, the employee dining room at the Bellagio, which shares the same kitchen, faced closure on the same grounds.
Initially, SNHD would only confirm the occurrence but refrained from providing any further details. However, on Monday, they elaborated on the situation in an email to Casino.org. According to an SNHD representative, the closures were based on imminent health hazards rather than the specific number of demerits the facilities received.
“Both the Bellagio Room Service Kitchen and Mangia Employee Dining Room share the same kitchen, and all permits associated with these two facilities were closed on September 19 under an Imminent Health Hazard of sewage/liquid waste backing up out of the floor drains,” the SNHD rep explained.
The closures prompted questions about the inspection process, especially since both facilities were initially closed with five demerits but later received eight demerits upon reinspection the next day. SNHD clarified that the nature of the violation, not the number of demerits, mandated the closures.
“The facility was closed based on the nature of the violation and not demerits,” SNHD explained. “In this case, the facility was closed under an Imminent Health Hazard of sewage/liquid waste backing up out of the floor drains, which warrants an immediate closure.”
The health district further clarified that facilities are typically closed for two major reasons: if an inspection results in 41 or more demerits or if an imminent health hazard is observed, regardless of how many demerits are recorded.
According to SNHD’s website, both the room service kitchen and Mangia’s fry/grill station underwent routine inspections on September 19, resulting in five demerits each for improper sewage disposal. The following day, inspections awarded both facilities an A grade. The room service kitchen received eight demerits, while the employee fry station received three. Subsequently, all associated permits were reopened.
Casino.org reached out to MGM Resorts for comment but has yet to receive a response. If a response is provided, it will be added to the story.
