Steger trustees call for pause on vape, hookah and gaming proposal at downtown site

Steger trustees on July 21 declined to advance a plan for Discount Vape & Tobacco at 3345 Chicago Road Unit A, saying the village needs a policy conversation about vaping, hookah lounges and gaming venues before approving new downtown locations. An attorney representing the parent company outlined a renovation that would create three tenant spaces: a convenience store, a cigar‑hookah lounge and a gaming room, but the board did not move the matter forward.

Trustee Thurmond said the village should pause new approvals while it studies regulatory options. “I really feel we should wait until that discussion is had before we move forward with any more vape shops and hookah lounges. I just don't like choosing economic gain over public health and the wishes of the residents,” he said. Trustee Trotier and Trustee Stewart also voiced concern about clustering of vape shops and cigar or gaming establishments in the downtown area and suggested the village consider limiting locations or creating a different licensing category for cigar shops.

Village Administrator Mary Jo Seehausen told trustees the current business license structure is uniform and tied to inspection items such as signage and vending machines, but trustees said that alone does not address zoning or public‑health concerns. Mayor William Joyce recommended the applicants review their business plan and meet with the Business Administrator to explore alternatives. No action was recorded on the Discount Vape application; the item remains subject to further policy discussion.

Why it matters: trustees framed the issue as a community standard and public‑health question rather than a purely economic one. The discussion signals the village may pursue zoning or licensing changes before approving similar downtown uses in the future.