COLUMBUS, Ohio — A lawsuit was filed against a market in the Hilltop neighborhood known for reported drug activity, prostitution and violence in recent years.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein announced on Tuesday that his property action team sued Rosco’s Market at 2500 Sullivant Ave. The lawsuit asks the court that the market be declared a public nuisance and have it shut down.
“We want small businesses to succeed, but not at the expense of the health and safety of the communities they operate in. This market is a nuisance to the Hilltop, and as soon as the Property Action Team gathered enough evidence to build a case, we filed our lawsuit,” Klein said. “We will continue to listen to community input and work with the Division of Police to hold property owners accountable when they threaten public safety. That remains our priority.”
According to court documents, the store — located a few blocks away from Burroughs Elementary School — sells drug paraphernalia.
Klein’s office said the Columbus Division of Police conducted several investigations into prostitution and made drug arrests over the past two years. Additionally, city officials received complaints from community members about loitering by apparent sex workers in the store’s parking lot.
Officers witnessed or responded to reports of robberies, drug and sexual activity, solicitation and violence over the past two years, according to Klein’s office.
Rosco’s Market also had several violations related to Ohio liquor laws, fire prevention and other state and local codes. Klein’s office said the violations included unsanitary conditions and violations on the exterior of the building and in the parking lot.
The market was inspected in August and cited for three fire code violations. The building was inspected again and the same violations were not fixed, according to Klein’s office.
