Market Street businesses react to crime, policing

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Businesses and residents in the Market Street area of Wilmington are speaking out tonight after the district attorney told people in the area to clean up the crime.

“We’ve always been concerned for our safety,” the Manager of Goody Goody Omelet House Earnie Mayhew said.

Mayhew said they have noticed an increase in crime on Market Street in recent years.

“And not just Market Street,” Mayhew said. “Downtown we have stuff happening all the time and behind here. It’s not just Market.”

Down the street, Pastor Paul Evans said their area does not see major crimes., but they do see something.

“Drug Activity,” Evans said.

Evans said it is ruining lives and it is a nuisance.

“Because it spoils another wise, good community,” Evans said.

That is one of the reasons Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous said they will use nuisance abatement and seize property from some of the hotel owners in the area if they have to.

“We’ve done it in the Rhino club and we’ll do it again up on Market Street, so they better clean up their act or they are going to be out of business permanently,” Evangelous said.

We spoke with some of the hotels on Market Street. They did not want to go on camera, but some of them say they do have a list of people that are blocked from staying at their hotel. Sometimes, the hotels say they cannot control the crime that is happening in this area.

“It’s a lot easier said then done,” Mayhew said.

Mayhew said he does not know if shutting the hotels down is feasible, but he and Evans both think help is needed.

“It’d be nice to clean it up and we’re behind them 100 percent,” Mayhew said.

“And I think we as a community have to do what we can,” Evans said.