Hastings Development News

Speedway West Tobacco License Renewal Denied Amidst Repeated Compliance Failures

The city council held a hearing and ultimately affirmed the denial of a tobacco license renewal for Speedway West Store #4486, located at 1390 South Frontage Road. The denial was based on a history of compliance check failures, including multiple instances of selling tobacco to individuals under 21. While Speedway presented evidence of recent policy changes and third-party compliance checks, and highlighted the potential impact on its employees, the council cited the repeated violations and the city attorney's recommendation to affirm the denial. The council's decision was to deny the license for the 2026-2027 year. The case involved discussions about the city's authority to deny licenses, the impact on local employees, and potential future compliance checks. The denial was affirmed by a vote, with specific council members expressing their reasoning based on the history of violations and staff recommendations.