Aj's Food Mart

WELL I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN COVINGTON FOR OVER 45 YEARS, HAVE LIVED ON 9TH FOR OVER 30, I FIND IT ALITTLE DISHEARTING THAT AS NEIGHBORS WE BLAME THE OWNERS FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE OTHERS. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKE WITH THE OWNER, I KNOW HE CARES FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, AND ALSO KNOW HE AND HIS EMPLOYEES DISCOURAGE THOSE WHO HANG OUT ON THE CORNER, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE POLICE. NOW I DONT SHOP THERE ALOT BUT I DO GO IN TO GET FEW THINGS NOW AND THEN, BUT I KNOW I CAN GO ANYWHERE WHEN I NEED THINGS, NOT EVERYONE CAN DO THAT, IF I THOUGHT FOR ONE MOMENT THE OWNER OR HIS PEOPLE PROMOTED IN ANYWAY THAT IT WAS OK FOR PEOPLE TO JUST HANG OUT AND DO WHATEVER IT IS THEY DO, THEN I WOULD BE AGAINST THAT OWNER, BUT I KNOW HE DOESNT, I DO KNOW HE HAS HIRED LOCAL PEOPLE TO WORK THERE AND IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY. SO TO SAY THAT OWNER THINKS HE DOESNT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY, THEN I KNOW YOU HAVENT TALKED TO HIM, OR YOU WOULD RETRACT THAT STATEMENT.AND JUST SO FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT READ THIS, I HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH THIS STORE OWNER, OTHER THEN MEETING HIM NOW AND THEN AND GETTING TO KNOW HIM. DONT BLAME ANY BUSSINESS OWNER WHO IS TRYING TO BETTER COVINGTON BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DRUG OR CRIME PROBLEM IN YOUR TOWN, AND WE DO THATS FOR SURE, BUT OUR EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO CITY HALL AND THE POLICE AND OTHER GROUPS THAT CAN HELP IN THAT AREA,

We asked several times, as neighbors, for the owners to discourage the "drifters", prostitutes, drug dealers, drunks, and dead-beats from hanging out on the corner. They put up no loitering signs and made an effort for a couple of days. Apparently the weekend help and their son didn't get the memo. The kept drifters on the corner all weekend. Sure enough, the other criminals started hanging out as before.

They don't seem to understand neighbors and community standards. We started having 'strangers' hanging out on the corner...then across the street...then completely around the block...then a shooting. There is a connection between 'hanging out on the street corner" and crime. The couple running the store do not think they have a responsibility to help. I would give zero stars if I could.