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Board recommends 15-day tobacco sales suspension for Fire and Ice after discovery of hidden flavored products
Summary
Inspectors found concealed shelving with flavored tobacco and nicotine products at Fire and Ice (8 Coyle Street) on April 17, 2025; the board voted to suspend tobacco sales for 15 days and impose a civil fine described in the hearing.
The Worcester Board of Health voted to recommend a 15-day suspension of Fire and Icetobacco sales after inspectors discovered concealed shelving units containing flavored tobacco and nicotine products during a compliance inspection on April 17, 2025.
Officer Harrington and investigator Kyle O'Connor told the board that during an April 17 inspection at Fire and Ice, 8 Coyle Street, inspectors located hidden shelving units that contained flavored tobacco and nicotine products in violation of state and city tobacco rules. Staff said all illegal products were confiscated, photographs were taken during the seizure, and the store manager was informed that the owner would receive a citation and a notice of the pending board hearing to determine an appropriate suspension period.
At the hearing staff characterized the product quantity as substantial: one speaker said 1,551 pieces of illegal product were seized and described the store's use of hidden shelving as an intentional effort to evade inspections. Staff initially said an automatic monetary penalty applied (transcript references a figure described at one point as "$2,005" and elsewhere described colloquially as "$2,000"), and recommended a suspension; board members recommended 15 business days based on the quantity and concealment method.
Following a motion and second, the board recorded yes votes from board members Leo, Gary Rosen, Charisse Allen and Frances Antis Balson and approved the 15-day suspension and imposition of the civil fine as required by regulation. Staff said the owner will receive formal written notice with the suspension's start and end dates and instructions on paying or contesting any civil penalty.
Ending: Staff will contact the business with the suspension schedule and the citation paperwork. The board instructed staff to proceed with enforcement under the city's tobacco rules; staff reiterated that the department's surprise-inspection authority covers permitted tobacco retailers and that the department conducts inspections in response to complaints and routine compliance checks.
