Toledo attempts to shut down Beer Dock for a year

9/9/2008

Toledo officials, citing violations of the city's public nuisance ordinances, yesterday filed a complaint in Lucas County Common Pleas Court seeking to padlock the Beer Dock, 932 North Huron St., for a year.

The city law department filed the complaint for preliminary and permanent injunctions against Zuhyair "Sam" Al-Sharari, owner of the convenience store; Wasfi Al-Sharari, a manager of the store, and the Beer Dock itself in an attempt to get the store declared a nuisance and have it closed. The owner and the manager could not be reached for comment.

The defendants, according to the complaint, participated in a "pattern of activity involving permitting drug abuse and possession of controlled substances at the store" between January, 2006, and June, 2008.

The complaint said Wasfi Al-Sharari, while acting as manager, obtained about $450 worth of stolen merchandise, which he then resold in the store.

The city has been successful in past attempts to padlock businesses after having them declared nuisances.