Title
Approving adverse action against the Tobacco Shop & Liquor Off Sale license held by 7 White Bears Liquor Llc d/b/a 7 White Bears Liquor, (License ID #20170000483) for the premises located at 1785 7th Street East. (Licensee will speak to Council on his own behalf).
Body
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Shop & Liquor Off Sale license (“License”) held by 7 White Bears Liquor Llc d/b/a 7 White Bears Liquor, (License ID #20170000483) at 1785 7th Street East (“Licensed Premises”) was the subject of a Notice of Violation and Request for imposition of a $500 Matrix Penalty for Underage Buyer Failure, herein incorporated as (Exhibit #1) (“Notice”) sent on May 19, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the basis for the Notice was that on April 22, 2025, at 2:23 p.m. DSI Inspector, Allan Vang, conducted a Tobacco Underage Buyers Compliance Check at 7 White Bears Liquor; and
WHEREAS, during the Tobacco Underage Buyers Compliance check, an eighteen-year-old male who had been retained by DSI to perform an underage compliance check entered the Tobacco shop to purchase cigarettes. The clerk did not request his identification nor was he asked of his age, nevertheless, the clerk sold him a pack of Marlboro Light cigarettes; and
WHEREAS, the Notice alleged, April 25, 2025, DSI Inspector, Joseph Voyda, sent a letter to 7 White Bears Liquor, 7 White Bears Liquor Llc, and to Isaac Gebreyesus. The letter was to inform all parties that they failed to pass the state mandated underage tobacco check (Exhibit #2); and
WHEREAS, DSI informed Licensee to expect a Notice of Violation from the City Attorney’s Office providing options on how to proceed with the adverse action; and
WHEREAS, the Notice gave the licensee until May 29, 2025, to select from the following options:
1.) do nothing and a resolution would be submitted to Council to impose the $500.00 matrix penalty;
2.) pay the $500.00 matrix penalty;
3.) request a hearing before the City Council;
4.) request an administrative hearing; and
WHEREAS, the Licensee confirmed with the City Attorney’s Office via phone call and email that he admitted to the facts of the violation and requested a Council Hearing, (Exhibit #3); and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Licensee’s request, the City Attorney’s Office placed this matter on the June 18, 2025, City Council agenda; and
WHEREAS, on June 18, 2025, the Licensee appeared and addressed the City Council; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, the Tobacco Shop & Liquor Off Sale license held by 7 White Bears Liquor Llc d/b/a 7 White Bears Liquor, (License ID #20170000483), for the premises located at 1785 7th Street East., Saint Paul, MN 55119, is hereby to pay and fulfill the $500.00 matrix penalty.