Fat Boys Deli Declared Nuisance

A St. Petesburg business that was the focus of a narcotics investigation in July has been declared a nuisance by the city.

The Nuisance Abatement Board has ruled that Fat Boys Deli, 2680 5th Ave. S., is an unlawful nuisance, the city announced Thursday morning. The landlord of the property must now follow a number of sanctions for the business to stay open.

The sanctions include:

• Requiring professional background checks on all employees at the business
• Ensuring that no employees have narcotics-related convictions
• Making sure the business follows state and local laws for convenience store safety, including having a security camera system, window signage that doesn’t block a clear view inside and height markers at the entrance
• Making certain a representative of the business attends quarterly Palmetto Park Neighborhood Association Meetings
• Discouraging loitering on the property

The sanctions will remain in place through September 2016. The city says the property’s landlord has agreed to the sanctions.

The St. Petersburg Police Department and Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco served a search warrant on the business July 1. A stolen firearm was found on the property, but the warrant was served in regard to suspected drug activity being conducted from within the store.

The store had 57 calls for police service within a one-year time period as of July 1, the police department told media in July.

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