photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

VIP Smoke Shop, 4000 W. Sixth St., Unit G, is pictured on April 9, 2025, the first day of its license suspension.

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has suspended a Lawrence smoke shop’s tobacco license after it was found to have repeatedly sold tobacco products to underage buyers.

The license suspension for VIP Smoke Shop, 4000 W. Sixth St., Unit G, was announced in a release from the health department this week. The release said the suspension would begin on Wednesday, April 9, and run through the end of the day April 15.

During the suspension, the release said the store is prohibited from selling any tobacco products and must remove all of these products and advertising for them from public view in the store.

“Failure to comply with these terms may result in further enforcement actions, including additional fines or permanent revocation of their licenses,” the release said.

On Wednesday, the store had brown paper taped over its windows, and a note taped on the door said it would be closed through April 17.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A note on the door of VIP Smoke Shop, 4000 W. Sixth St., Unit G, is pictured on April 9, 2025.

Lawrence’s city ordinance prohibits the sale of tobacco products to people under age 21, and LDCPH conducts regular compliance checks to ensure the ordinance is being followed. The release said VIP Smoke Shop failed multiple compliance checks, and LDCPH Executive Director Jonathan Smith said it had been convicted twice of violating the city’s ordinance.