Tobacco shop plan rejected in Wheeling

A proposal for a tobacco shop on Wheeling’s northeast side has been rejected by village officials.

A limited liability company called Wheeling Tobacco wanted to open a store at 1053 E. Lake-Cook Road. The vacant space formerly had been occupied by a T-Mobile store.

In addition to selling tobacco and non-intoxicating products derived from cannabis, the store would’ve had a temperature- and humidity-controlled cigar room, documents indicate.

The company needed a special use permit from the village board to open the shop, but the request was rejected by the village plan commission last month and ultimately by the village board on Nov. 3.

While the commission’s vote was advisory, the board’s 5-2 rejection sealed the would-be store’s fate.

Trustees Ray Lang and Joe Vito voted in favor of the plan. Trustees Mary Krueger, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto and Dave Vogel and Village President Pat Horcher voted against it.

Before the vote, Papantos and Horcher both expressed concerns that company owner Samer Abusaymeh skipped the board meeting. Papantos also wondered why an entrepreneur would want to open a tobacco store across the street from Lake County, where taxes on such products are lower.

A video recording of the village board’s discussion can be found online at Wheeling’s YouTube channel.