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FRESH FOR LESS

5555 W NORTH AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60639 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

FRESH FOR LESS has been inspected 3 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since October 28, 2025. The most recent inspection, on December 26, 2025, recorded 4 infractions.

1 of 3 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 15 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Pests and Cleaning and sanitizing.

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.

  • 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 23, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 on December 23, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded once on December 23, 2025. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • 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 8 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 26, 2025. For example: TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 26, 2025. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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.

3 inspections

  1. License Re-Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • 5-501.17// NOTED NO COVERED RECEPTACLES IN ALL WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • 5-501.115// NOTED TRASH AND DEBRIS FROM GARAGE DOOR TO DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.114// NOTED UNUSED OFFICE AND REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES IN BASEMENT AND ON SECOND FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ANY UNNECESSARY AND UNUSED EQUIPMENT FROM PREMISES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • 2-102.13// OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
  2. License

    11 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO SOAP AT HANDSINK IN WALK-IN COOLER PREP AND REAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK (NEAR EXIT TO DUMPSTER). MUST PROVIDE SOAP AT ALL TIMES FOR EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C).
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS AT HANDSINKS IN WALK-IN PREP AND REAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK (NEAR DUMPSTER EXIT) AND ALL WASHROOMS. MUST PROVIDE PAPER TOWELS AT HAND SINKS AND WASHBOWLS AT ALL TIMES FOR EMPLOYEES TO DRY HANDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C).
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED LARGE GAPS AT BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF REAR GARAGE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF RODENT ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 30 MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR OF THE REAR STORAGE AREAS AND UPSTAIRS OFFICE SPACE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS AND SANITIZE. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-020(A).NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED FACILITY WITHOUT A CHEMICAL TEST KIT FOR QUATANERY SANITIZER AT 3 COMPARTMENT SINKS. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE A TEST KIT THAT ACCURATELY MEASURES THE CONCENTRATION IN MG/L OF SANITIZING SOLUTION MUST BE PROVIDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 50. HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE
      • OBSERVED NO HOT WATER ON PREMISES. HOT WATER IS NOT OBSERVED AT THE FOLLOWING SINKS: WALK-IN COOLER/PREP HANDSINK, ALL WASHROOM SINKS, AND BOTH 3-COMPARTMENT SINKS. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE HOT WATER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS SHALL BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE PEAK HOT WATER DEMANDS THROUGH THE RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. MUST CORRECT AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • NOTED NO COVERED RECEPTACLES IN ALL WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • NOTED TRASH AND DEBRIS FROM GARAGE DOOR TO DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • NOTED UNUSED OFFICE AND REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES IN BASEMENT AND ON SECOND FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ANY UNNECESSARY AND UNUSED EQUIPMENT FROM PREMISES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN ALL WASHROOMS. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
  3. License

    0 infractions

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