Jersey City inspectors shut down a Bergen Avenue building when they found the fish market on the first floor was infested with rat feces and fungus and there was an illegal rooming house in the top two floors, officials said.

Chief City Health Inspector H. James Boor said there was not one properly functioning sink in Bergen Fish Market at 735 Bergen Ave. and the amount of rat droppings showed an “extensive” infestation.

There was a heavy mold growth in the walk in refrigerators and there was rotted wood and fungus in the fish preparation area, Boor said.

The wiring in the store featured bare splices and open electrical boxes and extensive use of extension cords.

Boor called in fire inspectors, who determined the electrical setup was an imminent danger and had Public Service Electric & Gas shut down power and gas service to the building, Boor said.



When inspectors went to the upper floors of the three-story building they found that the second floor apartment and third floor apartment had been converted into a total of eight illegal, single-room dwellings, Boor said.

Boor said he also found a large amount of illegal sexual stimulants behind the fish store counter.

The fish store owner is Han Lee of Jersey City and the building is owned by

Jin and June Namkung of Fort Lee, Boor said.

