ARLINGTON – Smokers are again buying cartons of cigarettes at the Blue Stilly Smoke Shop, the target of a federal raid last month that cleared out the shop’s stock.
The shop opened the day after the May 15 raid, but sold only a few items, including energy drinks and smokeless tobacco.
Since then, the stock has grown to include, among others, Seneca, Camel and Liggett brand cigarettes.
A line of customers continuously files into the shop – a popular destination on Highway 530 just east of I-5.
Dean Goodridge, the shop’s manager, said last month that representatives of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which conducted the raid, never told them to stop selling cigarettes.
The raid was part of an investigation into the alleged sale of untaxed cigarettes. Seven search warrants were served simultaneously by the federal agency in Washington and Oregon.
Documents related to the case are sealed, said Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle.
Goodridge’s brother, Eddie Goodridge Jr., owns the shop with their father, Ed Goodridge Sr. Eddie Goodridge Jr. is the Stillaguamish tribal executive. Ed Goodridge Sr. is a former Stillaguamish tribal chairman.
The smoke shop is privately owned, but it is on Stillaguamish tribal land. The Stillaguamish Indian Tribe does not have a compact with Washington State to cover cigarette sales.
Dean Goodridge said last month that the cigarette sales are regulated and taxed by the tribe, but Stillaguamish Tribal Chairman Shawn Yannity said then that the smoke shop is a private business and has nothing to do with the tribe.
Calls to Eddie Goodridge Jr. and Yannity were not returned Tuesday.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
