Sam's Store

• resultPass w/ Conditions
• critical violations2
• last inspectedSeptember 14, 2022
• address4459 S Washtenaw Ave, Chicago 60632
• cuisineGrocery Store

Is Sam's Store clean?

Sam's Store is currently Pass w/ Conditions from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on September 14, 2022. Inspectors wrote up 2 critical violations — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads mid 😬.

What did inspectors find at Sam's Store?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on September 14, 2022, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• 🤒staff working while sickcritical
  Procedures For Responding To Vomiting And Diarrheal Events • OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP POLICY PROCEDURE AND ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
• 🚰handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
  Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND SINK IN TOILET ROOM MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
• 🪳pests in the house
  Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present • OBSERVED AN APPX. "1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG BOTTOM OF REAR DOOR LEADING TO REAR HALLWAY.MUST MAKE DOOR TIGHT FITTING.
• 🚿plumbing acting up
  Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean • MUST DEFROST ICE BUILD UP FROM ICE CREAM FREEZER.
• 🚻bathroom / plumbing issues
  Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices • OBSERVED WATER LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH SINK BASIN INTO A BUCKET MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE.
• ⚠️Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED NO LID FOR GARBAGE CAN IN UNISEX TOILET ROOM MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
  Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED NO LID FOR GARBAGE CAN IN UNISEX TOILET ROOM MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
• 🧹floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
  Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean • MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE MISSING FLOOR TILE AROUND TOILET AND DAMAGED FLOOR TILE AT FRONT SERVICE COUNTER. • MUST CLEAN DUST BUILD UP ON FLOOR UNDER DISPLAY SHELVES ON SALES FLOOR AND REAR STORAGE AREA. • MUST ELEVATE,REMOVE OR ORGANIZE ARTICLES OFF OF FLOOR AND AWAY FROM WALLS IN TOILET ROOM.
• ⚠️Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • OBSERVED WINDOW IN TOILETROOM NOT ABLE TO OPEN MUST PROVIDE MECHANICAL VENTILATION.
  Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • OBSERVED WINDOW IN TOILETROOM NOT ABLE TO OPEN MUST PROVIDE MECHANICAL VENTILATION.

When was Sam's Store last inspected?

Sam's Store has 2 inspections on record going back to September 14, 2022.

Sam's Store vs Brighton Park

Brighton Park runs 64% clean across 402 tracked restaurants — 254 clean, 80 mid, 66 cooked.

Against the 402 spots Cooked tracks in Brighton Park, this one comes out cleaner than 18% of them.

Other spots in Brighton Park

• ✓ Taqueria Los Compadres
  clean · May 19, 2025
• ✓! Cocina Economica
  mid · November 17, 2025
• ✓ Archer Snacks & Tobacco
  clean · June 5, 2023
• ✓ Mariscos El Puerto
  clean · June 8, 2023
• ✓ Mariscos El Puerto
  clean · June 8, 2023
• ✓ Tio Luis Tacos And Cafe
  clean · May 30, 2023

See every restaurant inspection in Brighton Park →

How Chicago grades restaurants

Chicago does not use letter grades. Every inspection ends in one of three official results: Pass, Pass with Conditions, or Fail. Pass with Conditions means violations were found but corrected on the spot or under a deadline — the restaurant is open, with homework. A Fail means serious violations went uncorrected, and it usually brings a re-inspection within days. Chicago also flags “priority” violations, the ones most likely to actually make someone sick. Cooked reads Pass as clean, Pass with Conditions as mid, and Fail as cooked, and shows the itemized violations behind each result.

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health via Chicago Data Portal. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated September 14, 2022. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.