GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Grand Rapids party store has sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture for denying its request to renew its participation in the federal food stamps program.
Hall Street Party Store said in a lawsuit that its renewal application for the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was erroneously denied, and it is asking the court to reverse the decision.
“If the license were to be deactivated, it would threaten the continued existence of the store,” said Andrew Tapp, the party store’s attorney.
Hall Street Party Store,110 Hall St. SW, has been open 27 years. It’s owned by Amal Hermiz, of Farmington Hills, and Waisf Hermiz, of Ada, court documents say. In addition to beer and liquor, the store has a selection of canned and nonperishable food, frozen food, eggs, fruits and veggies, toiletries, cleaning products and more. It also sells hot pizza and fried foods.
The store’s trouble with the USDA started last year.
According to the lawsuit filed Dec. 6, the agency sent Hall Street Party Store a letter in December 2023 claiming the store was “engaged in trafficking of SNAP benefits.” The party store denied the allegation and “presented sufficient evidence and arguments against them,” the lawsuit says. The USDA reviewed the store’s findings and “rescinded” the charges.
However, on March 5, the USDA told Hall Street Party Store it must reapply to continue to accept SNAP benefits, the lawsuit says. The agency gave the store 30 days to do so.
The USDA denied Hall Street Party Store’s reapplication request because it says it did not receive the necessary documentation until April 8, four days after the deadline, according to the lawsuit.
Hall Street Party Store says it sent the letter April 4, one day before the deadline.
The USDA could not immediately be reached for comment.
A letter from the USDA to Hall Street Party Store said the store’s application was “properly withdrawn for failure to cooperate,” and that the store could reapply anytime.
Tapp, the party store’s attorney, said Hall Street Party Store can accept SNAP benefits while the lawsuit is being considered.
“The way that the statute and the regulations are structured, this particular license has not been deactivated,” he said. “We did speak with the USDA early in this case and ask that they leave the license active while we go through this judicial review and they’ve agreed to do so.”
