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Directing the Department of Safety and Inspections to proceed with adverse action and the imposition of a $500 matrix penalty against Grand Stop Llc d/b/a Grand Stop (License ID #130003229) for the premises located at 236 Grand Avenue.
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WHEREAS, the Tobacco Shop license (“License”) held by Grand Stop Llc d/b/a Grand Stop under (License ID #130003229) for the premises located at 236 Grand Avenue., in Saint Paul (“Licensed Premises”), which is owned by Elias Saman was the subject of adverse action pursuant to an May 7, 2025, Notice of Violation and Request for Imposition of $500 Matrix Penalty (“Notice”) (Exhibit # 1) in which the Department of Safety and Inspections (“Department”) provided notice to the Licensee to pay the $500 matrix penalty as a result of a first time underage buyer failure, and move forward with adverse action supported by Saint Paul Legislative Code §310.03; and
WHEREAS, On April 21, 2025, at 2:34 p.m. Inspector, Allan Vang conducted a Tobacco Underage Buyers Compliance Check at Grand Stop Llc d/b/a Grand Stop located at 236 Grand Avenue. A twenty-year-old male entered the store to purchase cigarettes. He was not asked to show his identification which indicated that he was underage, nor was he asked his age. Nevertheless, the clerk sold him a pack of Marlboro Light Cigarettes; and
WHEREAS, On April 23, 2025, a letter was sent to Grand Stop, Grand Stop Llc, and to Grand Holding Co Llc from DSI Inspector, Joseph Voyda. The letter was to inform the Licensee that the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI), had recently conducted a State mandated annual inspection in the attempt to purchase tobacco products to persons under the age of 21, hired by DSI and that the Licensee had failed; and
WHEREAS, the Notice laid out the basis for adverse action and the Legislative Code upon which the Department was relying as follows:
Saint Paul Legislative Code §310.01, defines Adverse Action as: “the revocation or suspension of a...
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