StreetLevel: Bodega Goes Up in Smoke

The Vargas Mini-Market, a bodega at the corner of Bond and Warren, was shut down late last week. According to the restraining order affixed to the shuttered business, it was closed for the “sale of untaxed cigarettes.” While the closure of a single bodega isn’t all that interesting, it’s the first time we’ve seen a store shut down (and publicly reprimanded) for selling untaxed smokes. We’re wondering if the city is cracking down on bodegas for this sort of shady behavior, whether it was an isolated incident, or if this is commonplace. Anyone know of this happening at other stores recently? GMAP
Feb 09, 2012 | 11:02 AM