Mia's Pizza Cited For Rodent, Roach Infestation

Popular Bethesda pizzeria Mia’s Pizza was temporarily closed in October after county health inspectors discovered a mouse and roach infestation, WUSA9 reports.

Owner Melissa "Mia" Ballinger told Patch that the establishment no longer has an infestation.

When a WUSA9 reporter approached Ballinger, she was shown on camera shoving the television crew’s camera before apologizing and inviting reporters to come inside the restaurant.

Montgomery County health inspectors reported mouse droppings on the floor and on canned goods, and live roaches on the counter and on a cutting board during food prep during an Oct. 16 inspection, according to the WUSA9 report.

Ballinger told Patch the infestation originated from a building next door from which a restaurant had recently vacated.

“It was totally unexpected," Ballinger said.

Mia’s quickly called in pest control and fumigation services to deal with the problem, Ballinger said. The restaurant was closed the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 16, and re-opened for lunch service the next day, she said.

“We did everything immediately possible,” Ballinger said. “We don’t have a problem now.”