COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The City of Columbus filed a lawsuit seeking to declare the Hilltop market a public nuisance due to allegations of prostitution and drug activity.

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

The market, located a few blocks from Burroughs Elementary School, has been a haven for prostitution, drug-related activity, violence and other crimes in recent years, the City Attorney’s Office said.

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Columbus police reportedly conducted numerous undercover prostitution investigations, made numerous drug arrests, and the city received numerous community complaints about sex workers frequenting the store 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.

Additionally, officers have witnessed or responded to robberies, drug and sexual activity, harassment, and violence within the past two years. Court documents show the property is a routine illegal dumping site.

The market itself became the victim of the crime when a woman was suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of 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 laws, including unsanitary conditions and violations on the building’s exterior and parking lot.

The market was also cited by the Columbus Fire Department for three fire code violations during an inspection in August. In the re-inspection, it was determined that the same three violations were not corrected.

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