By my count we currently have 10 businesses in town that qualify for the new C2 liquor licenses: Schnucks, Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Food Co-Op, Town Square Market, International Foods, Dona Camilla, the other grocery beside P-Mac Music (name escapes me), Save A Lot, Aldi's and Kroger. I did not think Kroger would qualify but was informed that is is 264 feet from the closest entrance to the nearest gas pump, exceeding the 250 foot limit imposed by the ordinance. Walgreen's, bakeries and convenience stores are excluded since, by the definition of the ordinance, they are not grocery stores (i.e. do not carry a full line of groceries).
On one hand, it seems like the 8 license cap could create a problem since there wouldn't be enough for everyone who qualifies. On the other hand, it's possible that some of the groceries won't apply for licenses. And when Monty proposed 8 as the cap, he mentioned that 8 licenses should take care of everyone who would be eligible. If he under-counted, and if everyone who qualifies applies, council might simply raise the cap to accommodate all groceries.
ReplyDeleteIt would be pretty unfair to cap the licenses in such a way that some grocers who want to sell beer and wine are given licenses and others aren't.
I'd forgotten about Arnold's Market as well. The grocers that have agitated the most for the ability to sell liquor have been Arnold's, the Co-Op, Wal-Mart, Kroger and Schnucks
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