MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Tiger Mart gas station on Jackson Avenue is temporarily closing after Shelby County General Sessions Court deemed it a public nuisance, says the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
Detectives with MPD's Organized Crime Unit have been investigating the Tiger Mart located at 1192 Jackson Avenue since May 2024. According to MPD, this gas station has had a high number of police dispatches within the last two years.
MPD data showed that between April 1, 2022 to June 6, 2024 there have been over 700 calls, and 100 reports made at this Tiger Mart location. These reports include murder, thefts, criminal trespass, credit card/ATM fraud, intimidations, forgery, assaults, vandalisms, emergency commitments, warrant pickups, DOA’s, carjackings, and drug violations.
"I think everything should be open, everybody got a family to feed," said Sergio, who owns 'Who Wants the Soap' and was power washing Tiger Mart on Saturday. "I don’t know about the history, but they seem like some pretty cool people to me."
During the two year long investigation, a total of 19 arrests were made at this Tiger Mart. MPD reports show these arrests include 11 warrants, 14 criminal trespasses, 4 shoplifting misdemeanors, 1 simple assault, 8 emergency commitments, 1 car theft, 2 drug paraphernalia, 1 carjacking, and 2 aggravated assaults.
After MPD detectives wrapped up their investigation, the findings were given to the Shelby County Attorney General’s Office for review.
On August 29, 2024, the Shelby County General Sessions Court (Division 14) granted a temporary injunction against this Tiger Mart, temporarily shutting it down, and deeming it a Public Nuisance.
"They can't control it, everything that’s going on out there," Sergio said. "As far as the inside and all the crime around here, they can’t control it. Crime’s everywhere."
One of the employees told ABC24 that they service thousands of customers a day and are one of the only places where Klondike Smokey City residents can get fresh food within a few miles. Residents who don’t have a car or bus pass have to walk to those stores. Management also said that calls to MPD have been made outside of the store itself, and did not involve any of the 30 store workers who might be unemployed in the coming weeks.
The owner of Tiger Mart is expected to appear in court next week, where they will find out if their business will be permanently shut down.