COLUMBIA, S.C. — Vape and tobacco shops have exploded in popularity in recent years, but some residents in Forest Acres say the stores hurt what they call the family friendly atmosphere of the city.
Now, a new ordinance being considered by the Forest Acres city council could make it harder for new vape shops to open.
Kerrie Matthews and her partner worked for months to ready their new vape shop on Forest Acres Drive.
“We’ve had a lease since February and it’s taken us a while to get open. There were a few setbacks with the city and we’re just trying to comply with all the regulations. We’ve been open about four or five days now,” Matthews said.
Even though Matthews' shop has only been open for a few days, it’s already drawn the ire of code enforcement. The owners were forced to shut off the super bright LED lights that adorn the store’s front windows. The city says the lights violate a neon-light policy put in place after other businesses installed similar lighting.
But even though those businesses are now grandfathered in to keep their lights on, Matthews said her store will comply.
“As a business owner, I can kind of see both sides. Of course it draws attention for the business. We’re here to make money and when we make money we pay our taxes. On the city’s side, I can understand they want to keep it clean and classy and respectful. But I just want to be treated fairly, just like the other businesses. When my neighbor has lights flashing and I cannot, that’s just a little unfair,” Matthews said.
Now the Forest Acres city council is considering language for a new ordinance that would apply specifically to vape shops.
Forest Acres city councilman Stephen Oliver said the city is considering an ordinance that would dictate where vape shops could open and how close to other vape stores they could be.
“Forest Acres is known for two things. We’re known for being business-friendly and family-friendly. We’re working very hard to balance those two out. We’re just concerned about our young citizens, our young families that are moving into Forest Acres, and just making sure these establishments aren’t being set too close to schools and churches and keeping them from clustering up together where we have two or three in a strip mall together,” Oliver said.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, specific distances were discussed.
Forest Acres city attorney William Dollard provided guidance for the council.
“1000 foot spacing from schools, churches and parks to a smoke or vape shop, and also 1000 foot spacing between smoke or vape shops,” Dillard reiterated to the council.
The city council agreed to seek input from the public at a meeting on September 10th.
Shop owner Matthews said whatever new ordinances are passed, she’s ready to operate within the rules.
"But the bottom line is, I can see both sides and we’ll comply and do what we’re told to do,” Matthews said.