Eating & Drinking w/ Take Out · Boston, MA

Blank Street Coffee

489 E Broadway

Last inspected Oct 14, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Passed

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SteadyThe last two inspections recorded a similar number of violations. Review the dated records below.

Quick Answers

When was Blank Street Coffee last inspected?: The most recent inspection on record was on Oct 14, 2026. The result listed by Boston Inspectional Services Department was “Passed”.
Were any violations recorded at the last inspection?: Yes: 7 violations recorded, none marked critical. Each one is listed below with the official wording.
How many inspections are on record?: 14 inspections on record, from Mar 17, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026.
Has Blank Street Coffee ever been closed by the health department?: No closure appears in the 14 inspection records we hold for this business. The earliest is dated Mar 17, 2024.

The Full Inspection History

14 inspections

Inspection

Oct 14, 2026

Passed

7 recorded violations

majorCode 590.002/2-501.11-PFCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Clean-up of Vomiting and Diarrheal Events (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide vomit / diarrhea clean up kit with procedures for establishment

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

majorCode 590.004/4-302.14-PFCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Sanitizing Solutions Testing Devices (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide test kit for proper testing of sanitizer

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

minorCode 590.004/4-501.11-CEquipment and utensils

Official Wording

Good Repair and Proper Adjustment-Equipment (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed cup sprayer at front counter leaking

In Plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

majorCode 590.004/4-601.11-PFCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

(A) Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces Nonfood-Contact Surfaces and Utensils (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed dusty filters on ice machine. Clean to remove all dust build up

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

minorCode 590.005/5-501.13-COther

Official Wording

Receptacles (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide a lid cover for trash barrels

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

majorCode 590.006/6-501.111-PFPests

Official Wording

Controlling Pests (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed fly activity throughout establishment. Instructed PIC to conduct deep cleaning of floor drains and maintain syrup bottles free of spillage. Erhlich pest service -10/1/26

In Plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

majorCode 590.006/6-501.115-PFOther

Official Wording

Prohibiting Animals (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed live dog inside establishment. Discussed with PIC to ensure the monitor live animals inside establishment and ask the required questions for potential service animal

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Oct 14, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Oct 5, 2026

Failed

7 recorded violations

majorCode 590.002/2-501.11-PFCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Clean-up of Vomiting and Diarrheal Events (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide vomit / diarrhea clean up kit with procedures for establishment

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

majorCode 590.004/4-302.14-PFCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

Sanitizing Solutions Testing Devices (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide test kit for proper testing of sanitizer

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

minorCode 590.004/4-501.11-CEquipment and utensils

Official Wording

Good Repair and Proper Adjustment-Equipment (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed cup sprayer at front counter leaking

In Plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

majorCode 590.004/4-601.11-PFCleaning and sanitizing

Official Wording

(A) Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces Nonfood-Contact Surfaces and Utensils (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed dusty filters on ice machine. Clean to remove all dust build up

In Plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

minorCode 590.005/5-501.13-COther

Official Wording

Receptacles (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide a lid cover for trash barrels

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

majorCode 590.006/6-501.111-PFPests

Official Wording

Controlling Pests (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed fly activity throughout establishment. Instructed PIC to conduct deep cleaning of floor drains and maintain syrup bottles free of spillage. Erhlich pest service -10/1/26

In Plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

majorCode 590.006/6-501.115-PFOther

Official Wording

Prohibiting Animals (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed live dog inside establishment. Discussed with PIC to ensure the monitor live animals inside establishment and ask the required questions for potential service animal

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Oct 5, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Apr 15, 2026

Passed

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Apr 15, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Feb 12, 2026

Passed

1 recorded violation

minorCode 590.005/5-205.15-CFacility maintenance

Official Wording

System Maintained in Good Repair (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide documentation for repairs from Licensed Plumber due to pipe burst in establishment via email to ISDHEALTH@BOSTON.GOV

In Plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Feb 12, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Jan 30, 2026

Failed (extension granted)

2 recorded violations

minorCode 590.005/5-205.15-CFacility maintenance

Official Wording

System Maintained in Good Repair (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Provide documentation for repairs from Licensed Plumber due to pipe burst in establishment via email to ISDHEALTH@BOSTON.GOV

In Plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues

majorCode 590.008/8-404.11-PFOther

Official Wording

(A) Ceasing Operations and Reporting (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Responded to the location while on call for flooding. Upon arrival the establishment observed closed. No access to the insterior of the building . Bussiness Card was left on the door to contact : INCA.PRINCE@BOSTON.GOV Establishment Voluntarily closed.

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Jan 30, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Jan 24, 2026

Voluntarily closed

1 recorded violation

majorCode 590.008/8-404.11-PFOther

Official Wording

(A) Ceasing Operations and Reporting (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Jan 24, 2026 · Original Source

Inspection

Oct 8, 2025

Passed

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Oct 8, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

May 23, 2025

Passed

3 recorded violations

minorCode 590.002/2-402.11-CEmployee health and hygiene

Official Wording

Effectiveness-Hair Restraints (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Staff observed without proper hair restraints while preparing foods. Provide at all times.

In Plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues

majorCode 590.006/6-501.115-PFOther

Official Wording

Prohibiting Animals (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed a dog inside of the establishment at the time of inspection. Observed staff speak to customer to leave. Signage Missing prohibiting animals. Provide and post at all times.

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

Missing allergen certificate. Provide and post at all times.

In Plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, May 23, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

May 19, 2025

Failed

3 recorded violations

minorCode 590.002/2-402.11-CEmployee health and hygiene

Official Wording

Effectiveness-Hair Restraints (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Staff observed without proper hair restraints while preparing foods. Provide at all times.

In Plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues

majorCode 590.006/6-501.115-PFOther

Official Wording

Prohibiting Animals (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed a dog inside of the establishment at the time of inspection. Observed staff speak to customer to leave. Signage Missing prohibiting animals. Provide and post at all times.

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

Missing allergen certificate. Provide and post at all times.

In Plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, May 19, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

Jan 14, 2025

Passed

3 recorded violations

minorCode 590.002(C)/2-102.12-CPermits, training, and postings

Official Wording

(A) Certified Food Protection Manager (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Expired Food safety certificate. Update and provide a current certificate. Post accordingly.

In Plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

majorCode 590.006/6-501.115-PFOther

Official Wording

Prohibiting Animals (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

Observed a non service animal inside of the establishment at the time of inspection. Discussed with pic regarding proper protocol and to post signage in the window for Service animals allowed only. Retrain staff

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

2025 Fees outstanding for Health Permit. Provide payment. Expired Food Allergen Certificate. Update and provide a current certificate. Post accordingly.

In Plain English

A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.

More about inspection finding

Official record from Boston Inspectional Services Department, Jan 14, 2025 · Original Source

Inspection

Jan 7, 2025

Failed

3 recorded violations

minorCode 590.002(C)/2-102.12-CPermits, training, and postings

Official Wording

(A) Certified Food Protection Manager (C)

Inspector’s Notes

Expired Food safety certificate. Update and provide a current certificate. Post accordingly.

In Plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

majorCode 590.006/6-501.115-PFOther

Official Wording

Prohibiting Animals (Pf)

Inspector’s Notes

In Plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

notedCode L1Other

Official Wording

No wording provided in the official record.

Inspector’s Notes

2025 Fees outstanding for Health Permit. Provide payment. Expired Food Allergen Certificate. Update and provide a current certificate. Post accordingly.