(a) "Special store" means and includes any store or any mercantile establishment in which goods, wares, or merchandise of any kind, except cigarettes, tobacco products or soft drinks, are purchased, ordered, sold, or offered for sale, either at retail or wholesale, and which contains no coin-operated device(s) owned and operated by the store proprietor. "General store" means and includes any store(s) or any mercantile establishment(s) in which goods, wares, or merchandise of any kind is purchased, ordered, sold, or offered for sale either at retail or wholesale. Within this section, no coin-operated device or devices shall be construed to be a store.
(b) Every person establishing, operating, or maintaining one or more general stores within the Municipality under the same general management, supervision, or ownership shall pay an annual license fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per store. Every person establishing, operating, or maintaining one or more special stores within the Municipality under the same general management, supervision, or ownership shall pay an annual license fee of five dollars ($5.00) per store.
(c) The establishment, operation, or maintenance of stores by the following shall be exempt from the license fee imposed by this article:
(1) The United States of America, the State of West Virginia and its political subdivisions;
(2) Religious or charitable organizations;
(3) Any person engaged within the Municipality in the business of producing agricultural products who individually or collectively, sell in such store only agricultural products which he or they have produced.
(1978 Code Sec. 8-37)