Case against West Side Market accused of selling stolen goods resolved
Published on March 17, 2026
COLUMBUS, OH— Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein and Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shayla D. Favor today announced an agreed-upon order resolving the City and County’s lawsuit against the owner of a west side market accused of selling stolen goods. Owners of Herbert’s Market, located at 1121 Sullivant Ave., have agreed to pay a fine, verify the sourcing of all goods sold at the store, and remedy fire code violations.
“Shop owners who play by the rules shouldn’t be undercut by shady business owners. That’s why we filed this lawsuit and pushed to resolve this case in a way that keeps the doors open while holding these owners accountable and ensuring customers aren’t getting ripped off,” said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. “Thanks to the Division of Police, the County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Property Action Team for their work on this case. We’ll continue to monitor this shop and work together to clean up more of Sullivant Ave. so it can once again be an economic driver on our west side.”
The agreed-upon order requires owners to pay $8,000 in fines and other costs, keep invoices to verify the sourcing of all goods sold at the store for five years, and refrain from selling certain items such as designer brand clothing and fragrances. The store will also be required to fix any fire code violations within 30 days.
The ownership is now under a permanent injunction not to maintain a nuisance here or anywhere in the county, and the order also requires the installation of a full security system in addition to other operational requirements to enhance compliance and security.
“This permanent injunction is a step forward in making the West Side community safer and sends a clear message that Franklin County will not allow bad actors to profit from stolen goods and criminal activity at the expense of our communities,” said Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shayla D. Favor. “West Side residents deserve safe, honest businesses. I’m grateful for the collaboration between my office, the City Attorney’s Office, and the Columbus Division of Police that made this result possible. The residents of Columbus and Franklin County can be confident that we will continue to pursue every legal tool available to protect consumers and preserve the integrity of our local economy.”
The joint lawsuit filed in July 2025 charged owners with violating the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act (racketeering) due to a clear, repeated, and well-documented pattern of receiving stolen property and reselling it for profit. In addition, the lawsuit detailed how the property was a hotspot for criminal activity, with Columbus Police responding to the property 138 times in recent years. Columbus Fire also served Herbert’s with code violations for several dangerous fire hazards at the property.
In recent years, west side markets have seen increases in shoplifting and other crimes, which have diverted significant police resources to the area. City Attorney Klein and Prosecutor Favor say that this order will help curb crime and improve consumer confidence.