Illegal Weed Shop On UWS Block Shut Down By Sheriff's Office

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Red Eye Remedy Club, an Upper West Side smoke shop, has been shut down after authorities said it illegally sold unlicensed pot products.

The padlocking, anticipated by neighbors, is a component of the NYPD's ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized smoke and cannabis outlets throughout the city's five boroughs.

Just last month, officers also padlocked the smoke shop, Pure Green, located on West 72nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenue.

The organized shutdowns are part of Operation Padlock to Protect, a sustained multi-agency enforcement action to shut down illegal smoke and cannabis shops across the five boroughs, which began in early May.

Since the launch of Operation Padlock to Protect earlier this summer, the New York City Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force teams have shut down nearly 500 illegal cannabis shops across the city. The Office of New York City Mayor Eric Adams reported that almost 1,000 locations have been inspected, resulting in over $40 million in penalties issued.

Red Eye Remedy Club, located at 1875 Broadway between West 62nd and West 61st streets, was temporarily closed down after the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District filed several complaints about their activities.

"We are very grateful to those responsible for shutting the store down and to Council Member @galeabrewer for her hard work getting similar illegal smoke shops shut down on the Upper West Side," the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District said on social media.

The law enforcement task force intends to investigate more than 2,500 reports of potential illegal smoke shops across New York City’s five boroughs.

“There are a little less than 2,900 locations that have been identified for investigation,” New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda told press in a statement. “We get that information from community complaints. We also get that information from the police department, elected officials, and anyone else who makes the observation.”

Here is the list of cannabis shops that have been closed down on the Upper West Side over the last few months:

• West Side Cloud, 858 10th Ave.
• Amazing Smoke Shop, 208 Columbus Ave.
• Smoke ‘n Toke, 309 W. 57th St.
• Royal Convenience, 313 Amsterdam Ave.
• Red Eye Remedy Club, 1875 Broadway
• Mr. Empire, 564 Amsterdam Ave.
• Leo Organics 2047 Broadway
• Pure Green 128 W. 72nd
• Muddy’s Dispo 252 W. 108th
• Endo Guardz 2416 Broadway
• Munch and OOO’s 200 West End Ave.
• Vape and Dispensary 2442 Broadway
• 96 Tobacco Shop 2571 Broadway
• Come Say High 2717 Broadway
• Broadway CBD 2457 Broadway

"We're moving in the right direction. We're doing the right things. This is such an important initiative," Adams said. "Would not have been done if we didn't have a very committed, dedicated group of lawmakers and a governor that was very clear from the beginning. We knew we could get this right. We went back and looked over again to make sure we got it right. We're seeing the benefits on our streets every day."