Shocking discovery at David Jones food hall stuns onlooker: ‘I was horrified’
- Replies 47
David Jones, the iconic Australian department store, is known for its high-end fashion, homewares, and gourmet food halls.
However, a recent incident at one of its Sydney CBD locations has left shoppers feeling more than a little squeamish.
A group of rats was spotted feasting on the food hall's delicacies, turning a festive shopping experience into a stomach-churning spectacle.
Local comedian and DJ Matt Hey was the one to make the shocking discovery.
'I love seeing the David Jones Christmas window displays each year and after a late dinner, I decided to stop in and check them out on Elizabeth Street with some friends,' he told a news source.
'But I could hardly focus on the actual window displays because I was horrified to find multiple rats running through the store.'
In a video taken of the food hall, Matt and his friends are heard talking each time a rat runs by. 'Oh no,' he said as a rat went underneath a Christmas tree.
'The whole family's out to play,' he adds amid gasps as a rodent went back and forth.
The video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the rats darting around the food hall, even helping themselves to a Lindt chocolate ball from a display.
'Turns out a creature was stirring, and it was a mouse,' Matt joked at the end of the video.
The incident has sparked a wave of reactions online, with some viewers vowing never to shop at David Jones again.
'Oh my God, I am never picking a Lindt ball out from there again,' one person said.
'I'm never walking into David Jones ever again,' another wrote.
'That's it, I'm switching to Myer,' someone remarked.
However, other people online argued it wasn’t an issue.
'It's basically every building in the CBD after dark,' a commenter said.
Another added: 'If you don't think this happens everywhere, you're kidding yourselves.'
This is not the first time a Sydney shop has had a rodent problem as just last year, a shopper filmed a large rat across the food court at Westfield Parramatta, and some other rodents were videoed running through the aisles of a Chemist Warehouse store in Newtown.
'I know Sydney CBD is infested with rats,' Matt told a news source, 'but to see them running through David Jones was hysterical. Even the most glamorous-looking department stores have to deal with rats.'
‘I don't think the rats caused too much harm, but I will say, they were much more entertaining than the ACTUAL window displays!’
In response to the video, David Jones said it has regular pest management and control processes in place, and has increased measures to ensure a clean and safe environment.
While the sight of rats in a high-end department store like David Jones may be shocking to some, it's a reminder of the unseen pest problem many retail stores, particularly those in urban areas, have to contend with.
Pest control in retail stores is a challenging task. It requires regular inspection and maintenance, as well as prompt action at the first sign of infestation.
Many stores have pest management programs in place, but as the incident at David Jones shows, even these measures are not always enough to keep the pests at bay.
For shoppers, seeing pests in a store can be off-putting, to say the least. It raises concerns about the cleanliness and safety of the products on sale.
However, it's important to remember that the presence of pests does not necessarily mean that the store is unclean or unsafe. By no means are we excusing an unsanitary retail environment, but it might be more of a reflection of the challenges of pest control in urban settings.
So, next time you're out shopping, spare a thought for the unseen battle that's going on behind the scenes to keep the pests at bay. And maybe check your chocolate ball before you bite into it!
You can watch Matt’s full video below:
What are your thoughts on this incident, members? Have you ever encountered a similar situation while shopping? Share your experiences in the comments below.
However, a recent incident at one of its Sydney CBD locations has left shoppers feeling more than a little squeamish.
A group of rats was spotted feasting on the food hall's delicacies, turning a festive shopping experience into a stomach-churning spectacle.
Local comedian and DJ Matt Hey was the one to make the shocking discovery.
'I love seeing the David Jones Christmas window displays each year and after a late dinner, I decided to stop in and check them out on Elizabeth Street with some friends,' he told a news source.
'But I could hardly focus on the actual window displays because I was horrified to find multiple rats running through the store.'
Rodents were filmed running around a David Jones Christmas window display. Image: TikTok
In a video taken of the food hall, Matt and his friends are heard talking each time a rat runs by. 'Oh no,' he said as a rat went underneath a Christmas tree.
'The whole family's out to play,' he adds amid gasps as a rodent went back and forth.
The video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the rats darting around the food hall, even helping themselves to a Lindt chocolate ball from a display.
'Turns out a creature was stirring, and it was a mouse,' Matt joked at the end of the video.
The incident has sparked a wave of reactions online, with some viewers vowing never to shop at David Jones again.
'Oh my God, I am never picking a Lindt ball out from there again,' one person said.
'I'm never walking into David Jones ever again,' another wrote.
'That's it, I'm switching to Myer,' someone remarked.
However, other people online argued it wasn’t an issue.
'It's basically every building in the CBD after dark,' a commenter said.
Another added: 'If you don't think this happens everywhere, you're kidding yourselves.'
This is not the first time a Sydney shop has had a rodent problem as just last year, a shopper filmed a large rat across the food court at Westfield Parramatta, and some other rodents were videoed running through the aisles of a Chemist Warehouse store in Newtown.
'I know Sydney CBD is infested with rats,' Matt told a news source, 'but to see them running through David Jones was hysterical. Even the most glamorous-looking department stores have to deal with rats.'
‘I don't think the rats caused too much harm, but I will say, they were much more entertaining than the ACTUAL window displays!’
In response to the video, David Jones said it has regular pest management and control processes in place, and has increased measures to ensure a clean and safe environment.
While the sight of rats in a high-end department store like David Jones may be shocking to some, it's a reminder of the unseen pest problem many retail stores, particularly those in urban areas, have to contend with.
Pest control in retail stores is a challenging task. It requires regular inspection and maintenance, as well as prompt action at the first sign of infestation.
Many stores have pest management programs in place, but as the incident at David Jones shows, even these measures are not always enough to keep the pests at bay.
For shoppers, seeing pests in a store can be off-putting, to say the least. It raises concerns about the cleanliness and safety of the products on sale.
However, it's important to remember that the presence of pests does not necessarily mean that the store is unclean or unsafe. By no means are we excusing an unsanitary retail environment, but it might be more of a reflection of the challenges of pest control in urban settings.
So, next time you're out shopping, spare a thought for the unseen battle that's going on behind the scenes to keep the pests at bay. And maybe check your chocolate ball before you bite into it!
You can watch Matt’s full video below:
What are your thoughts on this incident, members? Have you ever encountered a similar situation while shopping? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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