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More businesses you suspect of being fronts?

So I was reading this topic over the last day or so. It had some really interesting stories in it. It’s at least 6 years old now, though. I was wondering if there were any new stories or businesses that people suspect these days…or maybe even updates from posters who posted in that old topic even? Either way, it makes for interesting reading and story-telling. Are there any shady businesses in your area or that you know about that you suspect may be really doing other things?

Businesses that are fronts for crime

A common trope in shows like The Sopranos or The Wire is that there are businesses (a butcher, a greek restaurant) which are owned by some criminal organization, and where many of their meetings and discussions take place. Is this at all reflected in reality? Have you ever randomly wandered into a restaurant or butcher shop or something and then had the sneaking suspicion that this was such a place? Or was there such a place in your neighborhood that everyone knew about?

Businesses you suspect of being fronts?

There is (at least for now) a Mexican restaurant in Lafayette called El Charro. The place has been in business for a few years, yet rarely seems to have any customers. I’ve often stated my opinion that its major stock in trade was a concoction not listed on the menu, and my suspicions now appear to have been confirmed. (In case the link has expired by the time you read this, the owner and one of his employees were busted for dealing thousands of dollars worth of imported methamphetamine. The…

Business that's a front, but not for crime.

Partly inspired by this thread. I’ve often wondered if there would be any laws broken by setting up a phony business to keep your friends and neighbors from knowing you were living on income from a trust fund/huge lottery win/lucky investment that paid off big time, etc. Rather than a storefront I was thinking of someone renting an office and putting up a sign saying something vague like “Ruffhuffner & Associates – appointment only.”, then telling friends that they worked for a confidential co…

Ever seen a business that was probably a front for illegal activity?

Today I ran across a gas station that had cheaper gas than usual, but the place was oddly deserted. The pump said “Pay Inside”, but there was nobody behind the counter except this big, muscular guy who didn’t look at me and didn’t even look like he worked there. At that point I thought, “Screw it, I’m going to Mobil.” At first I wondered how a place like that could even stay in business, until I thought…maybe that’s the point. Maybe it’s really a chop shop or something. Ever run across a bu…