Premises Information


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Name

VAVELA COFFEE

Address

440 E MCCULLOUGH DR

STE A-210

City/State/ZIP

CHARLOTTE

28262

Premise Type

1 - Restaurant

County

Mecklenburg

Inspection Date

7/17/2026

Final Score @ Grade

97.50

General Comments

Per conversation with PIC, facility serves food that is cooked within a different facility under a different LLC permit name. PIC stated french dip contains cooked onions, which are cooked within adjacent restaurant’s kitchen (Chex Grill & Wings), then brought up to Vavela for preparation in french dip. - All food preparation, storage, and cooking must occur within premises of Vavela Coffee, given current permit conditions. -PIC agreed and stated onions will no longer be cooked in adjacent facility under different permit name. EHS also observed frozen breads and bakery items stored within adjacent restaurant, Chex Grill & Wings, under a different LLC permit name. No food storage may occur within facility under different restaurant permit. -No points taken during current inspection. If same violation is observed during future inspection, points will be deducted. PIC stated facility is expanding to include space downstairs for additional food preparation and storage (freezers, coolers, prep tables, sinks). EHS observed Mecklenburg County building permit posted on building door. PIC stated facility is only storing frozen food within Chex Grill & Wings until new storage area is ready. PIC stated new storage area is intended to be added to same permit as Vavela Coffee, Inc.

Violations

CDI=Corrected During Inspection

R=Repeat Violation

VR=Verification Required

Violation Item	Demerits	Violation Description	CDI	R	VR	Comments
20	1.50	Proper cooling time & temperatures	Yes	Yes	No	3-501.14(B) Quickly cool TCS foods that are prepared from room temperature ingredients. Food must be to 41F within 4 hours. -P. -Observed sliced turkey, pastrami, and tuna miss cooling parameters after cooling for over 4 hours in low reach-in cooler. Observed turkey, pastrami, and tuna above 41F after cooling in low reach-in cooler overnight. Observed the listed foods stored within deep plastic containers covered tightly with lids. All other foods in the cooler were properly cold holding below 41F. -CDI- PIC voluntarily discarded the turkey, pastrami, and tuna. -REPEAT- For more information, please visit: www.meckncgov/foodsafety or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0iLZb7v0UM and Cooling Food Safely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6x8b1ZVOxU .
33	0.50	Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control	Yes	Yes	No	3-501.15 Quickly cool foods. Use methods such as open/vented shallow pans, large ice baths and active stirring. Cold air must flow around product to remove the heat. -Pf -Observed sliced turkey, pastrami, and tuna miss cooling parameters after cooling too slowly in low reach-in cooler. Observed the listed foods stored within deep plastic containers covered tightly with lids. -CDI- PIC voluntarily discarded the turkey, pastrami, and tuna. For efficient, rapid cooling, EHS recommended cooling in shallow containers, small portions, and uncovered, within the tall reach-in cooler or reach-in freezer. -REPEAT- For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Cooling Food Safely https://youtu.be/P6x8b1ZVOxU .
39	0	Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display	Yes	No	No	3-305.11 Store food in a clean, dry location, not exposed to contamination. Keep at least 6 inches above the floor. -Observed boxes of food stored directly on the floor. -CDI- PIC raised food off the floor. 3-305.12 Food may not be stored in locker rooms, toilet rooms, dressing rooms, garbage rooms, mechanical rooms, under sewer lines that are not shielded to intercept potential drips, under leaking water lines, under open stairwells, or under other sources of contamination. -Observed boxes of coffee syrups stored underneath a sink plumbing line, exposed to potential leaking/drips. -CDI- PIC removed box from underneath the sink.
41	0	Wiping cloths: properly used & stored	Yes	No	No	3-304.14(B) Hold in-use wiping cloths in properly concentrated sanitizer between uses. -Observed in-use wiping cloths stored directly on cutting board surfaces, not within a sanitizer solution. -CDI- PIC moved all wiping cloths into a properly concentrated chlorine sanitizer bucket.
56	0.50	Meets ventilation & lighting requirements; designated areas used	No	Yes	No	6-305.11/6-501.110 Designate and use an area for the orderly storage of employees' clothing and possessions. -Observed employee coffee drink stored above customer food in the tall reach-in cooler. -CDI- PIC removed employee drink. -Ensure employee belongings are stored in designated area (below customer food) to prevent contamination. -REPEAT-