ASHFIELD — Neighbors Convenience Store reopened Thursday after being shut down a month earlier by the Board of Health and other regulatory departments due to the discovery of 42 sanitary, food and fire code violations.

“Over the past month, they worked diligently getting the place up to code,” said Fire Chief Kyle Walker.

The 244 Main St. business owned by Sawkat Wally was shut down on July 14, with the various problems detailed in a 39-page report from Health Agent Claudia Sarti. Walker also created a report outlining the fire code violations.

An illegal apartment and shower is one of many violations that Sarti outlined in her report. The set-up was discovered when contractors went to the building to perform repairs. The dwelling unit has since been converted back into storage space.

The structural and physical violations discovered during the inspections included inadequate means of fire egress; doors smaller than the legally required width; inadequate and damaged fiberglass insulation above drop ceilings, coolers and in an employee office; the back roof and ceiling in need of repairs; a walk-in freezer without a non-slip surface; inadequate access to a grease trap in the bathroom sink; fire exits that are not clearly marked; bathroom flooring and walk-in freezer flooring that isn’t watertight; and roof gutters at the front of the store that are in disrepair and filled with plant material.

Electrical violations included a broken air conditioning compressor, exposed electrical panels, unsafe and temporary wiring throughout, exposed wires and a bare light bulb in the illegal dwelling.

Wally was required to make various upgrades to the store and received building permits to do so through Walker.

The Fire Department also found multiple licenses had not been updated since the business changed hands. According to the Massachusetts Registry of Deeds, Kapoor & Brothers LLC bought the 244 Main St. property on Aug. 22, 2022. The Selectboard held a brief public hearing on Monday to transfer a license for the business to store flammable and combustible liquids, flammable gases and solids.

Soon after the hearing, the business was able to reopen, passing all inspections required by the fire and health departments.

“They were able to complete and take care of the concerns for inspectors in the short timeframe,” Walker said. “I do not have any other concerns about the operation of other places.”

Reach Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.