THE HEAD SHOP CLOSES ITS DOOR, LITIGATION 'PENDING' OWNER SAYS

8/3/99 The Head Shop, which opened in Lompoc three months ago to some
controversy, quietly closed its doors this weekend at 113 South H St.

Owners David and Becky Gage faced some open resistance from city and
community leaders when they announced the shop's opening date of May 1.

"We would prefer not to stay (in Lompoc) because of pending litigation we're
bringing," Becky Gage said from their other property, also called The Head
Shop, located in the Stowell Center in Santa Maria. "Other than that, we
won't say anything more."

Mayor Dick DeWees and several business owners and citizens had voiced
concern before the shop opened that the business wasn't the type wanted in
the community - especially in the downtown area.

The Executive Board of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors
Bureau also voted to deny membership to the shop.

Critics said the store sold products that could be used for drugs, such as
pipes and scales.

During the store's time in Lompoc, David Gage stressed that the business'
products were not for drug use and said the pipes were for tobacco use only.

On opening, Gage projected that the shop would bring in "$175,000 a year"
into Lompoc and help in the downtown revitalization efforts and boost sales
tax figures.

DeWees said he saw the shop was closed on Saturday.

"Apparently this was not a business the community was willing to support
financially," he said.

Denny Anderson, executive vice president of the Chamber said, "The community
didn't want that kind of (business), apparently."

City officials made no other comments on the closing.