NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro Police officers and detectives raided and padlocked the Star Market on Buchanan Street Monday morning.
Police say this is due to the prolonged "disruption in the quality of life."
The raid and padlocking is a court ordered action under the state's public nuisance law.
Metro Police Chief John Drake stated that in August 2022, Metro met with the owners who were told about the activities. The owners were given a chance to clean up but there have been 60+ instances of the same type of activity "it has not slowed down."
In 2021, a man robbed the market, threatening to kill the clerk if he called police.
According to police, in addition to the drug deals, gunshots, fighting, drunkenness in the vicinity, the owners were taking in stolen items and selling them.
Chief Drake said that he hopes this will bring some peace back to the community.
North Nashville has always been home for Eric Harding and says he was not surprised by the raid.
"Back in the day they didn't care. Back in the day, people didn’t care they just they didn’t care," Harding said. "They let go on for this long I guess it come to a boil and people started moving in and now you want different things, and you want different things to happen."
Harding says he guess this is better late than never and he is glad to see it closed.
"At this point, sayonara. Sayonara and do not allow them to open up nothing else right there. Leave the corner clear, put something there productive," Harding said.
He says the community deserves better.
"You should be able to walk freely throughout your neighborhood."
The operators of Star Market, Bolis Boktor, 44, Basem Farag, 43, and Atef Abdelmaseh, 51
Boktor and Farag were arrested this morning on an indictment charging each of them with money laundering, organized retail crime, and attempted theft of property.
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