Tenderloin Store Owner Ordered to Pay $151,000
The court also bars him from keeping gambling devices or drug paraphernalia at his other Geary and Ellis street businesses.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Gambling
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Tenderloin residents and nearby business owners now have a clearer picture of how the city is cracking down on illegal activity at one corner store. A San Francisco court ordered TL Market & Deli owner Mohsen Mused to pay $151,000 in civil penalties, and he is barred from possessing drug paraphernalia or gambling devices at his other businesses.
Why it matters
The case stems from a Turk and Leavenworth corner store where police found illegal gambling and drug activity, a problem that affects the blocks around it as much as the store itself. The ruling matters for neighbors who have pushed for enforcement and for owners weighing how the city will respond to similar operations.
The court ordered $151,000 in civil penalties against the store owner, and police seized 16 illegal gambling machines in the September 2024 raid. The City Attorney's Office has helped shut down 13 stores in the Tenderloin in recent years. It is not yet clear whether the penalty will be paid in full or appealed.
The players
San Francisco City Attorney's Office
The city office that brought the civil lawsuit and negotiated the eviction settlement at 200 Leavenworth.
Mohsen Mused
Owner of the TL Market & Deli and two other businesses on Geary and Ellis streets, ordered to pay the civil penalties.
Tenderloin Community Benefits District
The local district that has agreed to buy 200 Leavenworth and convert it into a community space.
The details
On November 6, 2026, a San Francisco court ruled in the city's favor in a civil lawsuit filed in October 2024 against Mohsen Mused, owner of the Tenderloin store known as Barah Market, Azaal Market, and TL Market & Deli at Turk and Leavenworth streets. The court ordered him to pay $151,000 and barred him from possessing drug paraphernalia or gambling devices at his other businesses at 701 Geary Street and 456 Ellis Street. The store had been evicted from 200 Leavenworth earlier in 2026 under a settlement between the property owner and the City Attorney.
Timeline
September 2024: San Francisco police raid the store and seize 16 illegal gambling machines.
October 2024: The city files its civil lawsuit against the store owner.
June 2026: A narcotics raid finds illegal tobacco, prescription drugs, and drug paraphernalia at the store.
Earlier in 2026: The store is evicted from 200 Leavenworth under a settlement.
November 6, 2026: The court orders Mused to pay $151,000.
Across the Bay
The City Attorney's Office has helped shut down 13 Tenderloin stores in recent years, and this judgment adds a civil penalty and a ban on gambling devices to that effort. Oakland and San Jose have not been tied to this specific enforcement approach in the source material.
If you shop or live near Turk and Leavenworth, the store's closure and the eviction from 200 Leavenworth change the corner, and the planned community space at that address could bring a new use to the site. Report suspected illegal gambling or drug activity to police so the city can keep building cases like this one.
The takeaway
The ruling shows the city is willing to pursue civil penalties and eviction settlements against Tenderloin stores that host illegal gambling. Watch for news on the Tenderloin Community Benefits District's plans for 200 Leavenworth and for any appeal of the $151,000 judgment.
Further reading
For more on how gambling rules are enforced, see our Gambling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports.
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