The future of Blakenall Mini Mart, a convenience store in Walsall, is set to be decided at a council meeting on Monday, 10 August, following several breaches related to illegal tobacco and underage alcohol sales.
Trading Standards, West Midlands Police, and the public health team at Walsall Council have jointly requested the revocation of the store’s licence, citing long-term and regular offences.
In both June 2024 and July 2026, officers from Trading Standards purchased packets of 20 cigarettes for £5 each at the store; the products were suspected to be counterfeit. Additionally, in July 2025, two 16-year-old volunteers were able to purchase a bottle of WKD Blue without being asked for identification, highlighting a breach in age restrictions.
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Further inspections in May 2026 resulted in the seizure of 960 cigarettes and 3.1 kilograms of tobacco from the premises. It was also noted that the shop’s licence had been suspended the same month due to non-payment of the annual fee, which was due in October 2025. Despite this suspension, alcohol sales continued, constituting unauthorised licensable activity.
Mr Salam Hussein Khiziryan has held the store’s licence since October 2025. While some offences took place prior to his tenure, records show that he worked as an assistant at another establishment on Stafford Road, Walsall. On two occasions at that site, officers seized illicit cigarettes – 200 in August 2025 and 140 found concealed in a toilet cistern in February 2026 – incidents during which Mr Khiziryan was present.
The licensing and safety committee of Walsall Council will convene on 10 August to review the licence and determine the appropriate course of action for Blakenall Mini Mart.