LINCOLN SQUARE — A St. Louis-based head shop that sells tobacco- and marijuana-smoking paraphernalia has bowed to pressure from neighbors and pulled the plug on plans to open a store at 4548 N. Western Ave.
"We are 'Mr. Nice Guy,' we are nice guys. We're not trying to fight with anyone," said David Palatnik, co-owner of Mr. Nice Guy with his brother. "We didn't want to upset anyone."
The head shop owners said a nearby church will take over its lease, but church officials would not confirm that.
Neighbors learned in November that Palatnik had leased the Lincoln Square storefront, formerly home to children's shoe store Piggy Toes, and immediately mounted a campaign against the shop, largely because of its promixity to Queen of Angels elementary school at 4520 N. Western Ave.
Even though Palatnik insisted Mr. Nice Guy would be situated the required distance from the school, per city ordinance, neighbors questioned his math and also took offense with the store's kid-friendly logo, which some described as a "Santa Claus covered in a smoke-like beard."
A petition protesting Mr. Nice Guy gathered more than 550 signatures and Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th), who doesn't typically get involved with private real estate transactions, said he "made it clear" to the Palatniks that "this was an inappropriate use."
Though Pawar conceded that the proposed location was "probably just beyond the buffer zone," the Palatniks' attempt to open Mr. Nice Guy near the school, even if within legal rights, "displayed really poor judgment," he said.
Palatnik ultimately met with representatives from Queen of Angels parish and school and said of the exchange, "We got to an agreement. The church took over the lease" under unspecified terms.
Queen of Angels Principal Julia Byrns Kelly wouldn't comment on any negotiations with Palatnik, stating: "The only thing I can confirm at this time ... is Mr. Nice Guy is not opening on Western Avenue in the proximity of our school."
Despite the dust-up, Palatnik said he still hopes to open a Mr. Nice Guy outpost in Lincoln Square and is actively scouting for a new location.
"Most people were for us, most of the comments were positive," he said of reaction on social media.
"We're not going to open too close to a school. Now we understand the issue," Palatnik said.
The close call with Mr. Nice Guy prompted Ald. Pawar to introduce an ordinance that would increase the required distance between a school and tobacco retailer from 100 feet to 450 feet.
"Obviously there are vape shops all over the city, what we want is to make sure they're not near a school," Pawar said. "Study after study shows that Big Tobacco is targeting kids through vaping. Call me a NIMBY but I have no compassion for uses related to tobacco."
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