SALEM–The health department has reinstated the food service license of Main Moon on Second Street.

In a press release issued Jan. 30, the health department confirmed that Environmental Health Director Charles Weatherly conducted a standard inspection of Main Moon on Jan. 27. During that inspection weatherly observed “a critical violation” and “imposed an immediate suspension of Main Moon’s food service license.” In addition to that critical violation, the inspection also identified “other minor infractions” which must be addressed including the implementation of “improved cleaning practices.”

While that release did not initially specify the nature of the critical violation, Health Commissioner Chelsea Clark said Thursday that the primary issue was the restaurant’s walk-in cooler being outside of acceptable temperature ranges. The inspection report states that at the time of the inspection the cooler was observed holding an ambient temperature of 54 degrees Fahrenheit, all-time and temperature controlled for safety foods must be maintained at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below. According to the report Weatherly instructed the restaurant “to immediately discard all stored items” in the cooler and have its “cooling unit adjusted and/or repaired to ensure proper temperature control moving forward.”

The report also identified critical violations of acceptable handwashing practices including employees being observed “washing their hands without the use of soap and subsequently handling equipment and utensils after working with raw means”; and facility sanitation practices with the food preparation area “observed to be heavily soiled with significant buildup,” and the facility at large “observed to be in need of a comprehensive deep cleaning from the lobby area through the rear of the establishment.”

Weatherly conducted Main Moon’s follow-up inspection to ensure that the restaurant had appropriately corrected the issues identified by the initial inspection on Tuesday. An inspection Clark said had showed the restaurant had returned to full compliance, with the cooler holding at approximately 38 degrees, and the entire facility rigorously sanitized. Clark also said that following that inspection, Main Moon’s food service license had been re-instated and re-opened for business on Tuesday.