San Francisco has filed suit against the property owners and managers of four Tenderloin stores for operating illegal gambling dens, selling drugs and dealing in stolen goods.
City Attorney David Chiu said he filed suits Friday aimed at Family Corner Discounts at 401 Ellis St., US Smoke Shop at 415 Ellis St., EZ Dollar Discount Store at 335 Jones St., and Ed’s Market at 153 Turk St.
Chiu said the shops were “drug and gambling dens fronting as small businesses” in a “Wild West” of illegal activity.
One of the stores openly displayed merchandise carrying Walgreens, CVS, Safeway, Big 5, Trader Joe’s, Target, and Harbor Freight branding, Chiu said in a news release. Several also had gambling machines and sold drug equipment such as pipes used to smoke methamphetamine and crack cocaine.
“One store went as far as to store meth for sale under a display shelf,” he said. “We are asking the court to protect the community, hold these owners accountable, and level the playing field for law-abiding small businesses.”
In addition to seeking penalties and injunctive relief, the city is asking the court to shut down each business for one year.