In a sweeping crackdown on food safety, the city of Gary has temporarily closed several grocery stores and restaurants in recent weeks after inspections uncovered multiple health and building code violations. City officials say the closures are part of a coordinated effort to raise standards and hold businesses accountable.
The enforcement push has already affected neighborhood staples, including Save More on the city’s East Side, Save More on Broadway, and Miller K Market. While city leaders stress that none of the establishments are permanently closed, the move has stirred an outpouring of reaction from residents concerned about the balance between protecting public health and ensuring access to food in a city long considered a food desert.
“Our residents deserve to know they can trust the businesses operating in their community,” Mayor Eddie Melton said in a statement. “We are raising our expectations for all food and grocery establishments in Gary. We will no longer tolerate establishments that cut corners and compromise public health by neglecting their responsibility to provide fresh, quality food and safe conditions. Our citizens deserve nothing less than the highest quality of standards.”
The city has not detailed the specific violations but acknowledged multiple health code issues that forced the closures.
According to the city, the closures are part of a coordinated push involving the Health Department, Code Enforcement, the Building Department, and the Fire Department. Officials said temporary closure has, in some cases, been “the only effective enforcement tool to ensure compliance after prior warnings were issued.”
Inspection records reviewed by Capital B Gary show a wide range of violations across multiple businesses. An August inspection of Jerk 2 Go Express documented eight infractions, including no labels or dates on containers in the cooler, no soap at the handwashing sink, and toxic items stored next to food in the prep area. A September inspection also noted “mice in grill in food prep area.”
For Miller K Market, a September inspection reported expired food in the cooler and freezer and a “mold type substance” in the cooler and on the ceiling. The following day, however, a reinspection found no violations.
An August inspection of Vee and E Original Jamaican found eight violations, including chicken stored at 100 degrees, food on the floor, unlabeled containers in the cooler and refrigerator, and raw food stored next to dishwashing soap.
At Save More on 921 Broadway, a Sept. 2 inspection cited five infractions, including two critical ones, such as plumbing under the meat cooler being in disrepair. The store made corrections and was cleared to reopen on Sept. 5.
The Save More on Ninth and Broadway was closed for several days last week, while Miller K Market shut down for one day. Both have since reopened after reinspections. The Save More at 2101 Virginia St., formerly Sam’s Grocery, was closed Aug. 20 following multiple health code violations and remains shut down.
Business owners described the shutdowns as disruptive but not always tied to food safety. A representative of Miller K Market said the store was closed because of fire code issues, not sanitation.
“They came at the end of the day and closed us for a day,” the owner said. “The fire department said we didn’t have carbon monoxide detectors at the back exit, and the outlets weren’t grounded. It had nothing to do with the food. We were back open by the next day.”
At Save More on Broadway, management said they viewed the closure as a turning point.
“We’re taking it as a learning experience and trying to do better for the community, and better for the store,” a manager said.
Artie King, owner of Kings and Wings, shared his frustration, saying his closure was tied to paperwork.
“Before the closing, officials said they had given warnings, but I don’t remember receiving them,” he said. On Facebook, the restaurant explained further: “We had to close because of some behind-the-scenes paperwork that needed to be taken care of. Nothing more, nothing less. It had nothing to do with cleanliness, mixing food, or any of the reasons other restaurants in the city may have been shut down.”
The wave of closures quickly drew strong reactions from residents online.
“I know the store has to follow health codes,” resident Tony Gillespie wrote on Facebook. “So I hope the city is working with the owners of Save More to reopen. The City of Gary is a food desert, and people have limited grocery options.”
Others worried about the immediate impact on access.
“They can’t even get a Strack’s or Meijer or Jewel here … and the people who live in those communities can’t get out to other stores,” resident Naomi Tidwell posted. “They closed Save More because of a violation, not all are in violation though.”
Some voiced anger at store owners themselves.
“I’m not surprised at all about the Health Department closing the grocery stores in our city,” resident Yolanda Hughes said. “It’s sad to see these owners aren’t concerned about their customers and the quality — or lack of quality — they provide within our urban city.”
Others focused on the lack of options.
“We the people have to eat from these stores in our city,” Paul Brock said. “I’m tired of going to Schererville to shop at Whole Foods or driving to a different city in general to get produce. I would like to shop right here in Gary.”
To ease the burden, the city said it is funding LaJuan Clemons and the Gary Food Collective, which regularly hosts food drives, to continue providing fresh produce and essentials. Clemons told Capital B Gary the closures reinforced why he began his advocacy work.
“Until the community really realizes that the cornerstone of any kind of community development is food and the quality of the food, then we can start talking about the real issues the city is having,” he said.
For more than a decade, Clemons has pushed the idea of a community-owned grocery co-op. His organization recently acquired a building at 2113 Broadway to begin developing its first store.
“When I heard what was going on, it just gave me a pathway to progress,” he said. “This is what Gary needs: its own resource, not just an organization that says it’s here for the people, but one you can depend on. That’s what I intend to prove.”