Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 24, 1995 TAG: 9510240075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Police, firefighters, zoning and tax enforcement officials, the Commonwealth's Attorney's office and state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department raided the stores Friday. They found 483 violations.
The stores that were closed were a mess, police Lt. Richard L. Acampora told City Council's public safety committee Monday.
In many, ``The roofs were falling down, the floors were totally rotten,'' Acampora said. Some were infested with rats and pigeons.
Inspectors went to the stores because of complaints by neighbors, Acampora said.
Sandi Stovall, executive director of the Historic Jackson Ward Association, said two stores in her neighborhood were centers for drunkenness, profanity and public urination.
She was not worried that closing the stores would take jobs from people. ``If we are able to take care of the crime problem, everybody will be able to make a living,'' she said.
But the owner of one of the stores, which was cited for 10 violations, said city officials could ``have found a better way to do it.''
Yong No, owner of Han's Food Market, said he was surprised by the unannounced visit by two police officers, an ABC agent and a half-dozen other inspectors and officials.
``It made me nervous,'' No said. ``I didn't know what was going on.''
City officials did not specify what violations they found, according to No. ``They said they would send me a letter and I would have 30 days to fix it,'' he said. No was allowed to keep his store open.
Councilman Anthony D. Jones, chairman of the public safety panel, said the store owners did not have anything to complain about. There were code violations, ``and they were just caught with their pants down.''
At least one Church Hill resident, however, was unhappy.
``We really rely on these stores to get things that we run out of. Most of us are widows and don't drive,'' said Geraldine Morton, a widow and retiree.
by CNB