St. Joseph Businesses Seek to Close Wood's Mini Mart

Three local companies have filed a lawsuit alleging the convenience store at 1334 Frederick Ave. constitutes a nuisance.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a heavy brick wall, representing the institutional burden of local nuisance law disputes. — Three St. Joseph businesses filed a lawsuit seeking to permanently close Wood's Mini Mart, citing persistent criminal activity and financial losses. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should commercial neighbors be able to force a local business to close over alleged public nuisances?

Three Saint Joseph businesses are seeking a court-ordered permanent closure of Wood's Mini Mart. The plaintiffs allege the convenience store is a public and private nuisance, citing ongoing criminal activity and property damage.

Why it matters

The lawsuit claims that disturbances at the property have resulted in significant financial losses, including property damage, lost rental income, and increased security expenses for the plaintiffs.

A petition for a permanent injunction was filed in Buchanan County Circuit Court on October 16, 2026. The lawsuit names Sajid Farooqui and Zeshan Siddique as the operators of the business.

The players

E.L. Crawford Construction Inc.

This is one of the local businesses listed as a plaintiff in the nuisance lawsuit against the convenience store.

Sajid Farooqui

He is named in the court filing as an operator of the business currently doing business as Wood's Mini Mart.

Zeshan Siddique

He is identified in the litigation as a co-operator of the property located at 1334 Frederick Ave.

Buchanan County Circuit Court

This is the judicial body where the legal action to shutter the business was initiated by the plaintiffs.

The details

The plaintiffs, including E.L. Crawford Construction Inc., KC-KC Properties LLC, and Baseball Builders LLC, allege that dangerous conditions at the 1334 Frederick Ave. address necessitate closing the facility. They are currently seeking financial damages alongside the closure request.

2016 to 2026: The period covered by 2,969 recorded police calls to the address.
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026: A window during which the address logged 1,951 service calls.
October 16, 2026: The lawsuit was filed in Buchanan County Circuit Court.

Legal Context

This lawsuit follows the established pattern of using public nuisance abatement litigation to address recurring criminal activity at specific commercial properties. Such cases often rely on historical police call volumes to demonstrate a pattern of dangerous conditions.

The lawsuit potentially impacts the surrounding neighborhood by seeking the total cessation of business operations at this specific high-call address. Residents and business owners in the area may see changes to local safety and security conditions pending the court's decision.

The takeaway

Property owners facing repeated issues with neighboring businesses may utilize nuisance laws to seek permanent closures when other measures fail. Those affected by neighborhood disturbances are encouraged to track and document recurring incidents to support potential future legal claims.