Memphis convenience store closed after FOX13 finds live rat

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Nina Simone told FOX13 her toddler screamed after coming face-to-face with a rat at a Memphis convenience store.

“It even looked at the camera,†the Raleigh mother said. “You know how they normally run? He ain’t run! He ain’t jump. He ain’t flinch. He didn’t do none of the sort.â€

She sent a video to FOX13 of the rat munching down on chips and popcorn on one of the shelves. Simone said the video of the rat was recorded Wednesday afternoon at the Jackson Food Mart off Hollywood Street and Jackson Avenue.

“They live there,†she said. That’s their home.â€

Simone brought this to the attention of the worker behind the cash register Wednesday, but she said he didn’t get up to investigate.

“He didn’t really care,†she said.

FOX13 walked into the store on Thursday and almost immediately heard bags of chips rustling. At least half a dozen bags were ripped wide open. Then, FOX13 spotted a live rat fall four feet off the shelf. There were also rat droppings in the cardboard containers that held chips.

When FOX13 confronted man behind the counter, the worker would not say whether he knew about the rat on the shelf.

“Bro, y’all need to get this together, mane,†said Emory Fields, who walked into the store. “Real talk, mane.”

FOX13 showed Fields the video and he decided to leave the store.

“Well they got channel 13 on y’all butt now,†Fields told the worker. “Ay bro, y’all in trouble. You need to get it together.â€

FOX13 reached out to the city, the county and the state on Thursday afternoon. A city spokeswoman confirmed the city does not inspect convenience stores. A county spokeswoman referred FOX13 to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

During FOX13’s live newscast at 5 p.m., the convenience store owner approached FOX13 and said he had hired a vector control company. There were still rat droppings on the shelf. He said he would close while he worked to clean the store.

FOX13 will continue to monitor this story in the days to come.