SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls Police say that two businesses in the city failed a recent alcohol compliance check.
Authorities say four businesses in total were checked. The two that failed are Mercato on West 11th Street and Park Ridge Gas N’ Pak on South Western Avenue in central Sioux Falls.
Employees at both businesses sold alcohol to someone under the age of 21.
Both were issued a summons and given a court date.
Mercato is on the same block of businesses that’s seen changes in the past month. The Sioux Falls city council voted against the renewal of the malt beverage license for La Tapatia Mexican Store mid-May, which is in the same building as the Lucky Lady Casino. The owners of that business pulled their requests for malt beverage license renewals and closed down the establishment earlier in May.
At the time of the La Tapatia decision, the business owner asked for the same treatment for neighboring businesses.
“If it is my license that you are going to take off because of beer, I agree with that. But my opinion is, that if you take my license, also you can take Mercato and Munchies’ [licenses],” Josphina Marquez said.