Kroger Forced to Close Worthington Mall Store Due to Sewage Residue

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Kroger grocery store located at Worthington Mall in Columbus, Ohio was forced to close overnight on February 10th and 11th after the Columbus Public Health Department found water accumulation and sewage residue throughout the facility during an inspection. All food and non-food contact surfaces were ordered to be cleaned and sanitized, and any food exposed to the sewage was discarded before the store was allowed to reopen.

Why it matters

Food safety and sanitation are critical issues for grocery stores, as any contamination can pose serious health risks to customers. The closure of this Kroger location highlights the importance of proper maintenance and oversight to prevent such incidents, which can significantly impact a store's operations and reputation.

The details

During the inspection on February 10th, the Columbus Public Health Department found an 'extremely heavy roof leak' near the cash registers, meat/deli room, retail aisles, walk-in freezer, and walk-in dairy coolers. This led to water accumulation and sewage backup, with the health department observing sewage drain residue throughout the bakery and deli floors. All exposed food was ordered to be discarded, and all food and non-food contact surfaces were required to be cleaned and sanitized before the store could reopen.

• The Columbus Public Health Department conducted an inspection on February 10th, 2026.
• Kroger was forced to close the Worthington Mall store overnight on February 10th and 11th, 2026.

What’s next

Kroger will need to continue working with the Columbus Public Health Department to ensure all issues are resolved and the store meets all necessary sanitation and safety requirements before it can remain open long-term.