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The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office says it found evidence that controversial West Menlo Park business Blazin Gifts was selling tobacco, weed and psychedelic mushroom chocolate when they served a search warrant on the business on Aug. 12.
Blazin Gifts’ storefront at 3536 Alameda de Las Pulgas in unincorporated West Menlo Park has been controversial for over a year. While store owner Hussein Omar called it a gift shop, the store sold tobacco paraphernalia, which San Mateo County requires a tobacco retailer license in order to sell. The store can’t get that license as it is too close to several youth areas and one already existing tobacco retailer, under county law.
“The search warrant was in response to an investigation that found the business was selling products containing psilocybin (mushrooms), a controlled substance. Additionally, the business was found to be selling marijuana and tobacco products, despite never applying for or being issued licenses to sell those products,” San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office communications director Gretchen Spiker said in a statement.
Hussein Omar’s brother Ahmed Omar tried to open a tobacco store at the location in August 2024 but San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller worked with the county to prevent its opening. Ahmed Omar’s other business, Grizzly’s Smoke Shop, which is located in San Jose, was also investigated by law enforcement earlier this month.
According to the San Jose Police Department, it was one of four San Jose businesses where San Jose police served warrants on Aug. 6 in an operation that resulted in seizure of 74 points of various cannabis products, 40 pounds of psylocibin myshrooms, 426 cylinders of nitrous oxide, $11,000 in cash and a firearm, according to a department announcement.
Mueller previously told this news organization that Hussein Omar agreed to remove tobacco products from his West Menlo Park store.
Hussein Omar declined to comment.
The raid on Blazzin Gifts was done by the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force in partnership with local and state agencies, Spiker said.
The case has now been forwarded to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
In a statement, Mueller thanked the various agencies involved in the operation.
“I want to express my gratitude to the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force, San Mateo County Environmental Health Services, and state authorities for their continued work on behalf of the community,” Mueller said.
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Thanks to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and Ray Mueller, and all the residents and parents for their vigilance. I wish the owner of the property, Mostafa Ronaghi, an Atherton resident, would be more considerate and respectful of the community’s requests and its values. Hopefully Mostafa Ronaghi finds a more appropriate tenant next time!
Mostafa Ronaghi, an Atherton resident and property owner, is legally liable. He was fully aware of the business’s nature and the community’s concerns, but he chose to proceed anyway.
I’m saddened by the news they would shut this down before I had the chance to stop by and get some for myself.
The problem with businesses like this extends far beyond the sale of tobacco, unlicensed cannabis, or hallucinogenic substances. They often serve as conduits for illegal activities, money laundering, and other criminal enterprises, resulting in increased crime and, of course, a detrimental impact on children and teenagers.
It was shocking for us to learn that Mostafa Ronaghi, the property owner and longtime Atherton resident, allowed this to happen despite having a second chance to terminate the lease. We know the Ronaghi family—our children attended the same school (Philip Brooks School)—which is surprisingly within walking distance of this store.
Thank you, Ray Mueller, San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force, San Mateo County Environmental Health Services, and California state authorities. Please keep up the enforcement of tobacco retailers across the county.
Mostafa Ronaghi, please do better in picking your commercial tenants.
Thanks to Ray Mueller for keeping the spotlight on these too-stupid-for-a-life-of-crime people until something was done!