A family watching “Goosebumps” at a San Diego movie theater said they got a real scare when they noticed something furry in their cup holder.
Like most movie goers, the Amador family was attracted to the Cinepolis theater in Vista Tuesday for its luxury theater seating. They were not prepared to share it with rodents.
“I just watched the movie, and then I look over to my cup, and then I see a rat out of nowhere up on its two feet,” said Gloria Taylor said. Her mother, Theresa Amador, gestured that the animal was at least half a foot long.
“Goosebumps” is the spooky story of fictional monsters accidently released from children's books into the real world. The Amadors said the scariest part was not on the screen.
“I put my feet up and just let [a rat] run across me,” Gloria’s brother Dereck said.
The family was refunded their money after they complained to management about the rodents in their row.
On Wednesday, NBC 7’s investigation into the complaint prompted an inspection of the theater by health officials.
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In part of a statement released Thursday, Cinepolis spokesman MJ Salcido wrote, "A health inspector from the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health came out yesterday to Cinepolis USA's Vista theater location in response to the situation that occurred in one of our auditoriums." The theater's full response is below.
Salcido said the inspector gave the theater nearly a perfect score.
The inspector did discover rodent droppings inside a storage cabinet, but “no contamination, no evidence of rodents in the food preparation areas,” Salcido said.
According to DEH spokesman Gig Conaughton, the agency issued a minor violation to the theater.
But an infestation earlier this year forced the theater to temporarily close down its food operation, according to the theater's food inspection report, completed last May and obtained by NBC 7. It says inspectors found vermin droppings at the bottom of “all cabinets behind the concession stand.”
Droppings were discovered in the kitchen, and an inspector saw a live mouse on the floor behind the concession stand.
“It was a vermin infestation,” the report said. “The food facility was ordered closed.” The theater reopened the next day after cleanup and a call to exterminators. Cinepolis said it is working with Ecolab for its pest control services.
"Cinepolis USA is committed to doing everything possible to ensure a clean, safe and enjoyable theater experience,” Salcido wrote in the theater’s statement.
Conaughton said the DEH was back at the theater Thursday to check pest control methods and potential openings in the buildings where rodents could get in or are nesting.
The Vista theater has rodent traps strategically planted at exit doors and, according to health department reports, some are also inside.
Amador was not satisfied with just getting her money back. She said she wants to warn other parents who take their children to the Cinepolis.
“They're putting people at risk and they are there for profit,” Amador said.
If the Amadors were looking for Halloween thrills, they certainly got their money's worth.
“When you are watching a scary movie, it is kinda scary,” Dereck said.
They aren't in any hurry for the sequel.
Here is Cinepolis USA's complete response to NBC 7's questions:
"A health inspector from the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health came out yesterday to Cinépolis USA's Vista theater location in response to the situation that occurred in one of our auditoriums. As a result of the inspection, which was conducted throughout the theater, the inspector gave the theater a nearly perfect score.
"Additionally, Cinépolis USA immediately contacted Ecolab, a global leader in hygiene services that handles pest elimination, who visited that same day and provided pest control services at the theater.
"Cinépolis USA is committed to doing everything possible to ensure a clean, safe and enjoyable theater experience for our guests, which includes rigorous monitoring and proactive preventive measures complying with all regulations.”
