WESTFIELD- Pleasant Street Market had its alcohol license suspended for 30 days Nov. 9 after the License Commission found the corner store in violation of selling alcohol to underaged persons on at least two occasions.
The License Commission voted unanimously to suspend the store’s alcohol license for 30 days beginning Nov. 19. The store will also have to remove all alcohol advertisements and remove its alcohol inventory for the store for that duration.
During the Monday evening License Commission meeting, Chairman Christopher Mowat said that Westfield police had sent an underaged police cadet into the store without identification to purchase alcohol. On both occasions the cadet was able to purchase the alcohol without the clerks checking their ID.
The License Commission decided on a six-day base suspension in addition to one 12-day suspension for each of the known offenses.
The suspension comes on the heels of the arrest of the owner of Pleasant Street Market, Bhikhabhai C. Patel, in October. Patel was caught selling thousands of cigarettes that had an out-of-state or nonexistent tax stamp. He was charged in Westfield District Court with possession of more than 12,000 cigarettes without a tax stamp, selling more than 12,000 cigarettes without a tax stamp, and tax evasion.
More than $150,000 in illicit and improperly taxed tobacco products were seized from the store on Oct. 14.
Two weeks later on Oct. 29 a representative of the Department of Revenue entered Pleasant Street Market to perform a compliance check. An additional 400 packs of illegal cigarettes were discovered. Police Capt. Michael McCabe said that he believes the cigarettes were brought into the store after Patel’s arrest on Oct. 14.
Westfield police are not likely to add new charges to Patel’s case, but the cigarettes seized Oct. 29 will be a factor in the investigation into Patel.
The License Commission did not address this matter, as the Health Department has jurisdiction over enforcement of tobacco laws in the city.
Patel no longer works at Pleasant Street Market. Management of the store was transferred to other members of the Patel family.
Commissioner Edward Diaz said that there is serious concern in the area because of Pleasant Street Market’s proximity to a school. Diaz said that the store must card every single person who attempts to purchase alcohol, regardless of how old they appear.
