BUFORD, Ga. — A massive sinkhole swallowed an entire Gwinnett County business, but it appears the owner will be the one on the hook.
Large portions of the ground opened up under Wee-Willy's Food Store off Peachtree-Industrial in Buford, Jan 3, after days of heavy rain across metro Atlanta.
Video from 11Alive's crews that night, showed an entire wall of the business' building gone, with equipment and other items sliding out from inside.
Photos: Convenience store falls into Gwinnett creek
11Alive reached out to the City of Buford for more information on the sinkhole - they said that the building was close to an embankment of a stream on the property and it eroded over time.
In a statement, city officials said representatives from the Code Enforcement and the water departments met with the business' owner, Irfanali Momin, the day after the sinkhole first opened up.
Officials said they cited the owner with two violations: 1. Abatement of Unfit Buildings or Structures, related to the structures' unfitness, and 2. Prohibition of Illicit Discharge, which relates to the runoff of any substance not classified as storm water.
After the meeting, City officials told the owner he had to provide a plan of how he would bring the property into compliance with city code by Jan. 8, or they would take further action. On Jan. 10, Buford officials confirmed Momin missed the deadline, and said additional citations would now be pending.
Momin is expected in court Jan. 18 for the Jan. 4 citations.