It may just be the fourth Castro restaurant to be shut down by the health department in recent months, but Slider's Diner (449 Castro, not to be confused with Slider Bar) has been shuttered since Tuesday for a "vermin infestation," and marks the sixth such shutdown incident in the neighborhood since late last year. Hoodline reports that Slider's had its permit revoked until further notice, and the likely culprit was cockroaches — which also caused the vermin-related shutdown of Posh Bagel just a few doors down, in May.

Most recently, SliderBar at Market and 16th was shut down for the second time in eight months for unspecified vermin problems, and Mandu (previously known as Barracuda), a few doors down from SliderBar, was shut down for the second time and rebranded itself upon opening as Janchi. (Barracuda had previously been closed by health inspectors in February.) SliderBar has since reopened, as will Slider's, once they address their vermin issue.

Is there some kind of cockroach explosion that's related to the drought? Are these blocks of the Castro just teeming with the bugs (or other vermin?!) and some business owners are more vigilant about combatting it than others?

The trend is obviously disturbing.

Previously: SliderBar In Castro Closed By Health Department For Second Time In Eight Months