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CIRCLE K

190 W MADISON ST, CHICAGO, IL 60602 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

CIRCLE K has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 27, 2022. The most recent inspection, on December 4, 2025, recorded 12 infractions.

2 of 5 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 12 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Pests.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 3 times on December 4, 2025. For example: PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 2 times on December 4, 2025. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 4, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 4, 2025. For example: PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 2 times on December 4, 2025. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

5 inspections

  1. Complaint

    12 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED ALL NECESSARY ITEMS(DISINFECTANT EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS) NOT ON PREMISES FOR COMPLYING WITH PROCEDURE AVAILABLE ON SITE WHEN EMPLOYEES RESPOND TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW WHEN RESPONDING TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDWASHING SINK IN FRONT PREP AND FIRST FLOOR DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO POST CLEARLY VISIBLE SIGNAGE AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES THAT NOTIFIES FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS.
    • 21. PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED HOT TCS FOOD(HASH BROWN) HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 118.0-124.0F. INSTRUCTED ALL HOT TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 135F OR ABOVE. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $10 WEIGHING 0.25LBS. CONSOLIDATED WITH VIOLATION BELOW PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 54.3-59.4F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, MILK(59.2F), SAUSAGE CHEESE AND BACON ON BUN(57.7-58.1F), SAUSAGE, EGG AND CHEESE SANDWICH(55.6-55.9F), WESTERN STYLE OMELET WRAP(57.7-58.1F), RIB SANDWICH(57.6-57.7F), CHEESEBURGER(57.6-57.7F), BREAKFAST BURRITO(58.6-59.0F), CHICKEN CAESAR WRAP(58.5-58.6F), TURKEY CHEDDAR WRAP(56.8-58.6F), HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH(54.9-57.9F), CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH(58.5F), TUNA SALAD SANDWICH(58.1-58.5F), ALL AMERICAN SUB(54.9-59.4F), EGG SALAD SANDWICH(58.1-58.6F), VANILLA CREAMER(55.0F), HAM AND CHEESE LUNCHABLES(54.3-57.7F), CHEESE SAUCE(55.9-56.8F), TURKEY AND CHEESE LUNCHABLES(54.5-57.7F), CHEESE CURDS( 58.5-59.2F), TURKEY AND CHEESE SUB(57.7F), CHEESE AND MEAT SNACK(56.3F), YOGURT(55.6-56.2F) AND HALF AND HALF(56.5-57.1F) HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $1100 WEIGHING 70LBS. CONSOLIDATED WITH VIOLATION ABOVE PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • OBSERVED WALK IN/REACH IN COOLER AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 59.2F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON WALK IN/REACH IN COOLER. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED OPENING IN MIDDLE OF FRONT ENTRANCE DOUBLE DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN REAR STORAGE AREA AND BOXES OF EQUIPMENT STORED ON FLOOR IN LARGE STORAGE AREA WITH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED WATER FLOWING FROM TOP OF FAUCET OF ONE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR FAUCET OF ONE COMPARTMENT SINK IN BASEMENT. OBSERVED MISSING UTILITY SINK IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE MISSING UTILITY SINK IN BASEMENT AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT LARGE STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT WITH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE ALL MISSING CEILING TILES IN LARGE STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT WITH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2566046 DATED 10/27/2022 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
  2. License

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
  4. License

    1 infraction

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
  5. License

    0 infractions

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