Firefighters answer call, find sewage in kitchen, restaurant shut

A west St. Louis Mexican restaurant closed its doors on Thursday after learning of a possible food contamination.

KMOV reports firefighters and a fire marshal noticed sewage was backing up in the food preparation area of El Maguey on Manchester, Tuesday.  

The crew was called to the restaurant on an unrelated fire alarm but later El Magueydiscovered a pipe dripping sewage in the kitchen.

The owner tells News 4, a plumber that was brought in by the restaurant say the pipe was clear and ready to use earlier in the day.

El Maguey shut down immediately and began the cleaning process. The staff threw away food, any open liquor bottles and will be sanitizing the restaurant. The owner says he is also planning to steam clean the floors.

He hopes to finish the clean-up and gain permission to re-open by early next week.