Building Official Shuts Down Discount Retail Store In Stafford

STAFFORD, CT — The Stafford building official has ordered the shutdown — at least temporarily — of the Dollar General store on West Main St.

The store went dark Wednesday as a placard was pasted to the door by the local building official. The sign stated that the building has been declared "unfit for occupancy" and was "unsafe" because of "obstructed/inadequate means of egress."

That is a violation of Connecticut statute 116.1, which states that inadequate means of exiting the building constitute a fire hazard.

A sign posted by management said "Closed until further notice ... sorry for the inconvenience."

The store sits at 111 West Main St.

Another sign directed vendors to cal the store.

The statute does give business owners a chance to correct the transgressions.