Store owner sues City Council over loss of his liquor license

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, June 5, 2002 | 9:35 a.m.

A West Las Vegas convenience store owner is suing the Las Vegas City Council, saying the members' decision last month to revoke his liquor license was based on unsubstantiated allegations.

Rageh Hashem, who owns Food Fair Market, at 632 H St., filed a lawsuit against the council asking for a District Court judge to review its May 15 decision to revoke his liquor license.

Hashem is also asking a judge to postpone the revocation of his liquor license pending a full hearing.

In a seldom-used action, the council last month revoked Hashem's liquor license effective immediately, saying he had done little to curb illegal activity allegedly occurring on the lot.

Metro Police described the lot as a haven for loitering and drug deals, saying there were 200 calls to police last year.

The vote came a year after the council gave Hashem a temporary license to prove his suitability, at the height of concerns over drug paraphernalia being sold at convenience stores in West Las Vegas, an economically depressed neighborhood near West Bonanza Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

The concerns led to an ordinance being passed that forbids Las Vegas convenience stores from selling items considered paraphernalia, including scouring pads and glass pipes.

Hashem's attorney, Alan Buttell, argues that the council exceeded its jurisdiction by revoking the liquor license based on "instantiated allegations and uncorroborated evidence" and denied Hashem due process to address the allegations against him.

"The record reveals that the council, particularly Lawrence Weekly, had no intention of providing any type of full and fair hearing for Mr. Hashem and Food Fair Market," according to the lawsuit.