Columbus makes a motion to close the doors of the Hilltop Market

COLUMBUS, OH (WCMH) – The city of Columbus has sued a Hilltop market in an effort to declare it a public nuisance over alleged prostitution and drug activity.

According to the city attorney’s office, the Property Action Team has filed a lawsuit against the owners of Rosco’s Market, located at 2500 Sullivant Avenue in the Hilltop. The motion was filed Thursday for a requested hearing to permanently close the store.

The city attorney’s office said the market, which is located a few blocks from Burroughs Elementary School, has been a haven for prostitution, drug-related activity, violence and other crime in recent years.

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Columbus police have reportedly conducted numerous undercover prostitution investigations, made multiple drug arrests, and the city has received several complaints from the community about sex workers’ frequent loitering in the store’s parking lot.

“We want small businesses to succeed, but not at the expense of the health and safety of the communities in which they operate,” said City Attorney Zach Klein.

In addition, over the past two years, officers have witnessed or responded to reports of robberies, drug and sexual activity, solicitation and violence. Court documents show the property is a site of routine illegal dumping.

The market itself fell victim to crime when a woman was suspected of theft thousands of dollars in jewelry and lighters in 2022.

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The Property Action Team also noted several code violations related to Ohio liquor laws, fire prevention and other state and local codes, including unsanitary conditions and violations on the exterior of the building and in the parking lot.

The market was further cited by the Columbus Division of Fire for three fire code violations during an August inspection. A re-inspection revealed that the same three violations had not been corrected.

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