Arlington Heights suspends smoke shop's business license for selling to minors
Arlington Heights has suspended the business license of a local vape and smoke shop after it sold tobacco products to underage customers on at least three occasions, officials said Tuesday.
The 30-day suspension for Luxury Vape and Smoke Co., 1039 S. Arlington Heights Road, began Monday and remains in effect until Sept. 19, according to a statement from Arlington Heights police.
Police opened an investigation in April into the sale of tobacco products to minors at the business. Acting on information provided by community members, police conducted surveillance on several occasions and observed minors frequenting the business, officials said.
The department then conducted four compliance checks over the course of several weeks, using police special agents under the age of 21. Employees of the business sold tobacco products to the underage agents on three of the four occasions, police said.
In one instance, according to police, an employee checked the underage patron's ID, then suggested the sale would still be made if the customer joined the store's rewards program.
A store employee and the business were cited and later fined for selling a product containing nicotine to a minor and for failing to display a sign stating that the sale and possession of tobacco products to anyone under 21 is prohibited, police said.
The shop was cited for a similar offense in 2021 and 2022, and the Cook County Department of Revenue cited the business in June for failing to register as a tobacco retailer, officials added.
A person who identified himself as a store manager Tuesday said the business is taking steps to prevent similar occurrences, including more training for employees and the use of an ID scanner to confirm customers' ages. The employee who sold tobacco to an underage customer has been fired, he said.
Police said the public can anonymously report an establishment believed to be selling to underage persons by calling Crime Stoppers at (847) 590-7867 or pass information by email - not anonymous - to policemail@vah.com.