Convenience-store retailer QuikTrip is suing the city of St. Charles, Missouri, over the city’s tourism tax that includes the sale of chips, candy and soda, according to a report by Fox2Now.
The tourism license tax is to support tourism efforts, according to the city’s website. “Restaurant, hotel and motel operators in the city of St. Charles are subject to a city tourism license tax of 1% of gross receipts. This tax is a business license tax, not a sales tax.”
QuikTrip’s lawsuit “comes after St. Charles’ finance director blocked the renewal of the convenience stores’ liquor licenses,” Fox2Now reported.
The media outlet reported that the city “also requested St. Charles County officials place $4 million liens on QuikTrip’s two St. Charles stores.”
The network, affiliated with the Fox network, said if the city of St. Charles, Missouri, wins the lawsuit, “the tourism tax could be applied to other convenience stores.”
There are five QuikTrip locations in St. Charles, Missouri, according to the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based retailer’s website.
“At this time, we are not discussing matters that are in litigation,’ Aisha Jefferson, QuikTrip’s corporate communications manager, told CSP on Monday when asked about the lawsuit.
- QuikTrip is No. 9 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
QuikTrip is a privately held company. Founded in 1958, the chain now operates more than 1,000 stores in 17 states.
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