KALAMAZOO —

A store in the Vine Neighborhood was condemned Wednesday after a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer found building, fire, mechanical and electrical code violations.

Taped on front of the South Westnedge Market on Thursday was a notice citing violations including exposed electrical boxes, damaged drain lines and boxes not properly stored in the basement.

"It's a vibrant market, does a lot of business," said Bob McNutt, acting building official for the city of Kalamazoo. "We just want to make it safe."

McNutt said there had previously been violations at the convenience store at 819 S. Westnedge Ave.

"There were more issues and they were worse," he said of problems found in Wednesday's inspection. "That's why he was shut down."

Muhammad Abbas, who owns the building and the store, said he made many changes to the store Wednesday night,

including widening the shelves in the store and clearing out the basement to meet other requirements.

Abbas said he doesn't know what will happen if he is not allowed to reopen the store, which first opened for business in 1995. Abbas said he doesn't feel like he was given enough notice to make the changes before the store was closed.

Many of the violations involve the second floor of the building, which is intended for apartments. McNutt said those problems need to be fixed to bring the building up to code only if people start living there.

He said many of the plumbing and mechanical issues on the first floor should not "take a huge investment or a long time to take care of."

Steve Walsh, executive director of the Vine Neighborhood Association, said a public safety officer conducted a foot patrol at the business and found health code violations. People have been asking Walsh and others at the Vine Neighborhood Association about it, but Walsh said the patrol was not a neighborhood association directive.

Kalamazoo Gazette reporter Emily Monacelli contributed to this report.

Fritz Klug is a government reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact him at fklug@mlive.com or 269-370-0584. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+