FAIRFIELD - It's been five months now since the popular Jim's Variety on the corner of Main Street and Western Avenue closed, and it might remain empty for sometime longer.

Bob Hebert said Monday that a contract to purchase the convenience store from Jim Fitzpatrick is null and void, due to faulty pipes and plumbing issues. That has caused groundwater infiltration into the sump pump, which in turn means gas cannot be pumped, he said.

Hebert said that the state Department of Environmental Protection informed him of the problem when a department official read the Oct. 21 Morning Sentinel story on the impending change of ownership.

"Someone from the DEP had read the article and called me, and said I can't pump gas through," Hebert said.