The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) announced Monday morning that it shuttered a market in North Nashville due to excessive violence.
“MNPD officers & detectives now are raiding & padlocking Star Market, 1613 Buchanan St, after a prolonged disruption of quality of life in this area (drug deals, gunshots, fighting, drunkenness). This is a court ordered action under TN’s public nuisance law,” MNPD said on its X account.
Police Chief John Drake was on hand to explain the business’s closing.
The community is sick and tired of this kind of activity,” he said. “They’re sick and tired of quality of life problems. They’re sick and tired of gunfire. They’re sick and tired of not being able to have a peace of mind, and today we’re hoping to bring some of that peace back.”
The raid that preceded the padlocking of the store reportedly netted the arrests of two of the market’s owners on charges of including money laundering, organized retail crime, and attempted theft of property
“In 2022, representatives with the MNPD and District Attorney’s Office reportedly met with the market’s owners to make them aware of the activity occurring at the store,” WKRN reported. “During the meeting, the owners allegedly promised that they would take steps to fix the issues.”
The market will reportedly stay closed until a hearing before a Davidson County Judge which is expected to happen Thursday.
In a 2019 instance of violent crime at the location, a man pulled a gun on a cashier during a robbery at Star Market.
“The man was caught on surveillance video at the Star Market on Buchanan Street in North Nashville,” a report from that time said. “He pulled out a gun and pointed it at the cashier, while also firing a shot into the ceiling.”
WKRN reported that there have been nearly 430 instances of police responses related to Star Market since 2019.
– – –
Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X/Twitter.
Photo “Star Market Shutdown” by Metro Nashville Police Department.
