Massive sewage leak shuts down Toledo businesses

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A pair of businesses in a strip mall next to the Franklin Park Mall were shut down Thursday over a massive sewage leak.

The health department shut down Bigby and Zoup near Talmadge Road and W. Sylvania Ave. There’s currently no timetable as to when they can reopen.

Two businesses in the plaza are still open, but are facing challenges to try and retain business. Foot Solutions and F45, are among those still open.

Managers at those locations tell 13 Action News those issues have been going on for several weeks, expressing their frustrations. They said Thursday was a tipping point as the sewage leaked out.

“The raw sewage smell was coming inside our studio, members were gagging, you can smell it from our bathrooms,” Jaxton Owens, a partner and manager with F45 said. “You can smell it in our supply room currently, really the entire plaza. So its affecting a lot of members breathing issues, it smells horrendous, we have people booking less classes currently and it has cost us a few memberships as well who have canceled.”

Our news crews saw feces coming out of the drain on to the concrete.

Businesses that aren’t in the food industry said they had to split the expenses of a portable toilet to stay open. They said the property owners told them they would be reimbursed.

13 Action News tried contacting the property owner Thursday afternoon, but couldn’t get in touch. They arrived at the scene as our news crews were there. This story will be updated with their response.

Massive sewage leak shuts down Toledo businesses(WTVG)