Nuisance board declares Shop and Save at 427 W. Sunrise Blvd. a nuisance; orders cameras, signage and other measures

The Fort Lauderdale Nuisance Abatement Board on June 11 declared Shop and Save, 427 West Sunrise Boulevard, a nuisance and approved an abatement order requiring the owner to post signs, install cameras and lighting, remove gaming machines and cease sales of specified drug paraphernalia.

Detective, speaking for Fort Lauderdale police, told the board the store had 18 calls over six months including narcotics-related incidents, trespassings and an attempted robbery. The detective recommended a set of compliance measures and said, "The owner will install and maintain a minimum of 1 exterior surveillance video camera on each side of the property and a minimum of 1 interior surveillance video camera capturing the entry and exit of the business as well as the counter area, and 1 interior camera that will be focused on the cashier and the cash register, which should be monitored and record activity and transactions." The board voted to accept the recommendations as amended to require identification for all purchases of alcohol and tobacco.

Why it matters: The board's order places specific operational and reporting requirements on the store and keeps the property under board jurisdiction for one year, with a status hearing set for July 10, 2025. The board also assessed investigative costs and established daily fines for noncompliance, steps meant to reduce on‑site drug activity and improve neighborhood safety.

Key requirements in the order as announced by the detective and recorded in the hearing include: posting FLPD nuisance-abatement signs on three exterior locations within seven days; maintaining posted authorized no-trespassing signs and a trespass affidavit on file with police; installing exterior lighting and exterior and interior surveillance cameras within 30 days; removing gaming machines and specified retail items described in the order (glass stems, small glass pipes, rolling papers, brass screens/choreboy, grinders, scales and CBD items containing THC); conducting property checks at least weekly and emailing a detective and board staff weekly with status updates and photos; performing at least one nighttime inspection per month; and appearing at the July 10, 2025 status hearing. The board retained jurisdiction for one year.

The board also discussed investigative costs and fines as recorded in the hearing transcript. The detective stated an investigative cost of "$2,114.16," and that 50% of that amount was being assessed to the owner with a numeric amount given in the record as "$1,209.08." The transcript contains inconsistent arithmetic between the percentages and dollar amounts; the board order as announced ties collection of the remaining assessed cost to failure to meet compliance deadlines and sets a per‑item noncompliance fine that the transcript lists as "$2.50 per day" (see clarifying details). The board said the remaining balance could be waived if the owner complied within the time frames set out in the order.

During the hearing the store owner and a store representative described safety concerns, property access and the effect of a nearby barricade that residents and the owner said reduced police access to the neighborhood. Board members and the detective emphasized that removing the barricade was outside the nuisance board's jurisdiction and suggested the owner pursue city and commission channels for that issue. Board members also urged the owner to call police and, when possible, use anonymous calls to report trespassers.

The motion to accept the recommendations as amended was moved by Mister Smith and approved by the board. The board recorded members voting in the affirmative during roll call (President: yes; Mister Smith: yes; Joseph: yes) and the motion passed as amended.

The board asked the owner to provide weekly email updates with photos demonstrating compliance and set the next status hearing for the July 10, 2025 meeting. The board retained jurisdiction for one year and warned that failure to meet deadlines could result in additional assessed costs and daily fines for noncompliance.