New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
5 New Haven businesses closed in city’s second ‘Corner Store Sweep’
NEW HAVEN — A man pulled up to Howard Mini Mart on Howard Avenue in his sedan looking for some chips. He never even put the car in park before moving on.
The man, who didn’t give his name, was one of several people walking or driving to the corner store expecting to buy some snacks and groceries but were greeted with a metal grate and a notice from the city health department: the store was closed.
On Tuesday, a team of state and city officials conducted the second in a planned series of “Corner Store Sweeps,” targeted at corner stores in areas that have drawn the ire of the city for quality of life concerns. The inspectors ensure that the corner stores are in compliance with all areas of the law and municipal code — checking for labor, health, fire and safety violations.
The first sweep, earlier this month, looked at businesses in the Fair Haven neighborhood; on Tuesday it was the Hill neighborhood.
According to Lt. Justin Marshall, New Haven police district manager of Hill North and South, inspectors looked at five corner stores.
“All stores were found to be out of compliance,” he said.
Mayor Justin Elicker said all five stores — the Howard Mini Mart; 4 Jays at 198 Davenport Ave.; Super Star Food Market at 96 Sylvan Ave.; J&N Food at 131 Lamberton St.; and 7 Heaven at 129 Sylvan Ave. — were in “problematic” areas. All five were found to have alleged labor issues, he said, surrounding issues such as wages and insurance, as well as some alleged health and building violations at the Howard Mini Mart.
“They can reopen when they fix the violations,” he said. “We expect businesses to follow the law.”
Elicker said he believes the stores remaining in compliance and maintaining a collaborative relationship with city officials can have a positive impact on the neighborhoods they serve.