After rats are found in the movie complex at BayWalk, officials take steps to solve the problem.
By SHARON L. BOND
Published December 31, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - Muvico, the BayWalk movie complex, found rats in a couple of its theaters recently and called in exterminators.
Officials also did things around the building to get rid of the rodents they believe surfaced after construction of a nearby store.
"One or two of the auditoriums nearest the construction area" had rats, said Jim Lee, director of marketing for Muvico, which has its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.
The most recent construction at BayWalk near the theater was the Buzz store. The manager there referred questions to BayWalk management.
Craig Sher, president and chief executive officer of the Sembler Co., which built BayWalk, said Tuesday it was possible the build-out of the Buzz store resulted in rats surfacing, but he could not say for sure. He had not heard about Muvico's problem until contacted by the Neighborhood Times, and he said none of the retailers at BayWalk had complained of any problem with rodents.
"My guess is it was recent and isolated. I guess it happens. We will take care of the problem," Sher said.
Lee said Muvico took immediate action, which included getting Orkin to the building. Orkin would not comment, but Lee said the company caught "some" rodents. He said he thought they used black traps that have only an entrance door for the rodents.
"We are working with Orkin. We are having them come on a regular basis."
Lee said he didn't know how many rats were in the Muvico building but that it was not a huge number. Apparently some patrons saw them and complained. At least one called Neighborhood Times but would not identify herself.
In addition to treatment by Orkin, Muvico sank a steel mesh fence around the building and its planters. Also, maintenance workers went on a hunt for any holes or the like and closed them up. And janitors have been going into the auditoriums as soon as movies are over to clean up any spilled popcorn or other food.
"We are checking every area. We want to make sure we don't just chase them to another area," Lee said.
