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More than a month after the Winchester Health Department shut down Gloria’s Pizzeria due to “imminent health hazards,” the Main Street business remains closed and its food permit suspended.
In a letter dated Oct. 6, Director of Public Health Jennifer Murphy informed Gloria’s owner Steven Beck, of Boston, the 920 Main St. business was being shut down immediately following an inspection the same day.
According to the letter, the inspection found the walk-in cooler and many food items — including par-cooked steak tips, cooked chicken and meatballs — were “not at appropriate cold holding temperature.” The items were “voluntarily discarded.”
The letter also referred to several violations noted in an Order to Correct dated Sept. 30, 2025.
“There were seven (7) violations noted for 48-hour correction and none were remedied,” the letter stated.
Beck was ordered to “cease all food service operations at the establishment immediately. The suspension will remain in full effect until you have satisfied all conditions noted within this Order.”
The letter states the following six conditions are to be met:
• The establishment is limited to a one step cooking process; all foods that require cooking must be cooked for service.
• Cease using the top portion of the pizza flip top unit. The bottom portion of the unit was allowed for usage in cold holding until the Health Department can verify a permanent solution.
• Fully repair remaining gaskets on equipment in disrepair.
• Make repairs to the air conditioning unit.
• Repair or replace the sandwich flip top unit as “intended for proper cold holding.”
• Must contract with a Food Safety consultant. A copy of the contract must be submitted to the Health Department and include provisions for at minimum two unannounced weekly audits of the restaurant. All issues/violations are required to be written and noted in the audits and followed up by the consultant until corrected.
An email request from Winchester News to Beck requesting comment from the owner or a legal representative has gone unanswered.
Winchester Health Department officials say they are still waiting on Beck to inform them that he is ready for an inspection and has complied with the conditions in the latest order.
Past and present issues
A similar closure took place in late spring when the restaurant’s food permit was suspended for ongoing code violations.
Beck also attended a hearing May 30 with Health Department staff and Brian Winner, the town’s counsel, to discuss the ongoing issues facing the business.
A letter from Murphy to Beck outlined the dual purpose of the meeting as “a) discuss your appeal of certain conditions of the Health Department Order of May 16, 2025, specifically the requirement that you engage a Food Safety Consultant and b) discuss and take potential action in response to your lack of compliance with the timelines noted within the same Order, i.e. to consider whether to impose a suspension per the Board’s May 16, 2025 order.”
Beck was ordered at time to hire a Food Safety consultant, hire a pest control operator after the discovery of rodent droppings, designate a Person-in-Charge at the establishment and pay $2,400 in fines.
The most recent inspection was undertaken Oct. 6 by inspector Cameron Bishop found continued issues with rodent droppings in areas such as “inside the cubbies underneath the service counter,” in the utility closet and the floors near food prep areas.
In his report, Bishop recommended Beck find “a different pest control who will perform a needs assessment for eliminating and preventing pest activity and make recommendations. Current pest control operator continues to state no activity present, which does not coincide with my observations during inspections.”
Bishop also observed problems with, among other issues, crumbling mortar, broken gaskets and seals on equipment, dirty equipment such as fan guards and usage of equipment that the Health Department had restricted, such as the use of the pizza station.
Nell Escobar Coakley has been a journalist for more than 30 years. She is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Gotta Know Medford and editor of Winchester News. She can be reached at editor@winchesternews.org.
