UPDATE: Building owners offer deal to reopen Westside Shop

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The building owners that house Westside Shop presented a deal on Friday, May 5, to have the convenience store reopened.

Melydia Clewell with the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office sent an email stating:

“Today, the District Attorney General met with owners of the building that houses the Westside Shop. Although the law prevents us from discussing specifics of a pending case, I can provide new information related to the story that does not involve the accusations against the store owner.  As a result of today’s meeting, the property owners are offering to house a police substation rent free. They have volunteered to provide police with surveillance cameras and monitors and will even throw in a coffee pot. The DA has made CPD and Mayor Berke aware of the offer and provided the contact information so the city can reach out to the owners.

(For those unfamiliar with the specifics of the building,  it is the size of a small strip mall. The only portion currently rented is the space that houses the Westside Shop. The building owners are offering all the unused space to CPD.)”

The is no information on whether the store will reopen or not.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – After the Westside Shop was padlocked and labeled as a public nuisance, people in the area say they now feel like they live in a food desert.

Chattanooga resident Carolyn Alexander says her mother lives on Grove Street, and that she has been worried about her Mother, ever since the Westside Shop was shut down, and locked up.

“I felt sorry for the elderly and the handicapped. They don’t have a way to get to the store, they really don’t. So I am hoping he is able to open the store and get security in there” said Carolyn Alexander.

She says the next nearest store is not in walking distance.

“A long way from here because they don’t have vehicles. Some of them can’t get there.”

People who live in the neighborhood say it’s a major inconvenience.

Another resident of Chattanooga, Laura Richardson said “We got no where to go. We have to pay people to take you.”

Alexander is hoping changes are made so the store can reopen.

“They need security. Keep everything clear and there will be people that go about what they want and go about their business. No, a lot of no activity and stuff, like fighting and stuff, it is not good for the elderly people at all.”

Some kids who used to frequent the store, miss it.

“Sometimes I like going to the store, when I don’t have nothing to eat. I just like walking down there with one of my friends and getting a snack.”

She is unhappy about what happened.

“But then when I heard it got shut down it kind of made me feel bad because sometime I can’t go done there no more because they got it shut down.”

People in the neighborhood are hoping issues with the store are resolved so they can have a nearby place to shop.

“Just open the store as soon as possible. ASAP.”

A hearing abut the store is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10th.