Tobacco store plans move to Ave. C building

The former Avenue C restaurant space in West End Cloquet could soon be home to a tobacco and vape store, albeit not a new business. Rather, Lakeshore Tobacco Vapor owner Aysar Sadi said he needs to move his store from its current location at 902 Cloquet Avenue to the large First National Bank building at 207 Avenue C because his current landlord is selling and gave him notice to move by the end of March.

Cloquet City Council members and staff held off on approving the tobacco license Tuesday because they wanted to make sure Cloquet wasn't getting a second store - instead, waiting for a letter confirming that the existing store will simply be changing locations.

City administrator Tim Peterson had also recommended the council deny the license application because the store recently had its license suspended for selling a tobacco product to a minor, one of five reasons listed in city code for denial. Lakeshore's license was suspended Feb. 1-10, Peterson said.

Peterson said if Lakeshore TobaccoVapor owner Aysar Sadi were hoping to open a second location he would advocate the council wait to approve the license to make sure the business wasn't selling to minors, as the store has had two compliance check violations in two years.

If Sadi wrote a letter asking that the Cloquet Avenue licence be revoked the same day the Avenue C license goes into effect, then Peterson suggested the council approve the application.

Sadi - who also owns tobacco stores in Duluth, Hibbing and Grand Rapids - said they have added a new register system at his businesses to prevent any more sales to minors.

"An employee can't approve any customer before you swipe the [customer's] ID," Sadi said, calling into the online meeting. "If they're 21 or older than the system allows you to scan a tobacco product."

It was an expensive system, but worth it to "make sure kids are safe from tobacco."

In addition to cigarettes and roll-your-own products, Lakeshore Tobacco Vapor also sells vaping products and accessories, "everything CBD," cigars and cigarillos, hookahs and shisha, incense and candles, according to its website.

The Pine Knot News previously reported on the sale of Wood City Lights & Hardware. Current hardware storeowners Julie and John Haverkamp confirmed they arranged to hand over the keys to the new owner, North Star Community Services, on April 30. They said the smokeshop was not part of the new arrangement. Sadi said he was told to move out by March 31.

After discussion, the council voted the city could approve the license after Sadi sent the letter regarding the end of one license and the start of another because of the move.

Also Tuesday:

• Councilors approved additional purchases for the construction of a new salt shed to safely store raw salt and brine products for deicing under a roof, according to revised Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regulations. Public works director Caleb Peterson said the project is included in the city budget and the city will act as general contractor, with bids approved for three different contractors to work on the project. "We don't have a lot of choice; this is a mandate," he said.

• Councilors approved the appointment of Michael Shelton to the position of utility maintenance supervisor effective March 15, replacing Ross Biebl, who was hired as the city's new assistant public works director.

• Approved the July Fourth fireworks display contract, as part of ongoing plans to hold some kind of celebration this summer. See the Feb. 19 issue of the Pine Knot News for more on that discussion.

• At the conclusion of Tuesday's meeting, the council moved to close the meeting to the public in order to discuss pending litigation and legal strategies.

Editor's note: The first paragraph of this story was corrected to reflect that Lakeshore Tobacco Vapor was given notice to move out by the end of March 2021.