Kroger store reopens after pest-related closure

A Merion Village Kroger store reopened shortly before 6 p.m. Friday after being closed for a day by Columbus city health inspectors because of an infestation of “insects, rodents and other pests,” among other problems noted in an inspection report on Thursday.

Kroger spokeswoman Amy McCormick said late Friday that the store at 1441 Parsons Avenue had corrected the issues and had been reinspected by Columbus Public Health and reopened.

The store’s pharmacy and gas station had remained open, and all employees had continued to work at the store during the closure.

Similar issues had been noted in an inspection report a month earlier, but were said to have been corrected.

Problems noted on Thursday included “excessive food contamination by pests chewing through food items,” “large quantities of feces, torn packing and food debris throughout the storage room and some of the product aisles” and “food items ... sitting directly on the floor.”

Bon-Ton Stores, which filed for bankruptcy protection in February, has alerted the state that it might shut down a distribution center in West Jefferson. The company, however, says it hopes to avoid that and is in talks to keep the company going.

The distribution center has 330 workers, according to the company.

Bon-Ton said in a letter to the state that it plans to close the center June 5, but that the date is subject to change.

But Bon-Ton said Friday that it is evaluating options for the company and doing what it can to keep the jobs at the distribution center.