The city said Vibe Smoke Shop sold banned products and allowed minors to purchase products without checking for ID.
DENVER — The city of Denver is moving to suspend the license of a smoke shop after inspectors found multiple violations over the last few months that include selling products to minors, selling banned products and having alcohol on the premises despite not having a liquor license.
The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection issued a suspension order Tuesday to Vibe Smoke Shop, located at 7530 E. Colfax Ave. It orders the shop to immediately stop selling tobacco products after undercover investigators found several violations during an investigation into complaints earlier this year.
According the the order, the shop was previously cited last fall for selling tobacco to a minor. Then in early January, the department received a complaint that underage sales were ongoing. They sent in a “youth tobacco operative” who able to make a purchase. According to the order, the worker never asked him to verify his age or show an ID. On that same day, the order says an adult customer purchased a flavored nicotine vape, despite a ban on sales in Denver that took effect on Jan. 1.
On Jan, 28, the order says the parent of a 17-year-old boy made a complaint that Vibe sold Kratom to his son and his friend. In the complaint, the parent said both boys experienced addiction which required treatment.
As a result of that sale and complaint, the city said it ordered another notice of violation to the shop in early March. In mid-March the city confirmed the shop destroyed the products in question and notice of correction was issued. However, just two weeks later, the same parent who made the earlier complaint said his son was still able to make kratom purchases there.
Around that same time, inspectors attempted to visit the business after numerous complaints about loud noise and after hours parties. The suspension order says they contacted the owner who was not on site and were told they needed to wait two hours for the inspection. After ending that call, they were unable to reach the owner.
Several days later on March 31, inspectors and Denver police officers made an “unannounced” compliance inspection. During the inspection, several bottles of beer, whiskey and vodka were found in a refrigerator in the back room. Three boxes of beer, each containing 12 bottles, were also found in the back room. Several bottles of hard liquor were also found in various locations behind the sales area, despite the shop not having a liquor license.
In a follow up inspection, other items including non-compliant kratom and THC products were found.
As a result of the repeated violations, the city said it’s moving to suspend the business’s license and ordered the owners to attend a hearing on June 26. At that hearing, they will have an opportunity to present evidence to demonstrate why they should not have their license suspended or revoked.
The hearing officer will issue a recommendation, and the executive director of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection will review the recommendation and issue a final decision.
