(Memphis) A bright orange sign on the front of family dollar on main street lets customers know its closed.
“I was kind of concerned about it because it`s very convenient for everybody who lives downtown it’s one of the only places we can go shopping and get small items we need,” Joe Saia said.
Businesses next door say all weekend Family Dollar was closed while it did a deep winter cleaning.
Last week, the Shelby County Health Department showed up for a third time and told the business it was time to clean up after several complaints.
Nearby businesses say it smelled like dead rats.
“It was really foul,” Derrick Johnson said.
Johnson works next door at the De Ja Vu restaurant where you can know enjoy the smell from the kitchen instead of the foul odor he says was coming through the walls for the last three weeks.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of cleaning going on. A lot of buffing, wiping cleaning. They had their masks on,” Johnson said.
The health department also told them to hire a pest control company. They came out Monday morning rodent traps around the building.
The health inspector says that should eradicate the odor but it may take a bit if there is an animal carcass in the walls.
The health department added the Family Dollar also needed to close up holes leading into the basement.
“I’m happy they`re getting it done,” Johnson said. “No smell more customers.”
The health department says it will make another trip out to the Family Dollar this week to make sure they are in compliance.