An East Bluff convenience and grocery store is one step closer to being able to sell package liquor, but whether or not the business receives a license remains to be seen.
The Peoria City Council on Tuesday narrowly approved the site application for King Zone Grocery & Grill on a 6-5 vote, taking the unusual step of going against the recommendations of the liquor commission and police department.
“This will never be a liquor store, not even close,” said council member Alex Carmona, who led the push in favor of King Zone, located at 2411 Knoxville Ave. “The footprint of the actual liquor is probably 10% of the store. The liquor is only there — just like the tiny amount of tobacco he has there; he’s not selling a boat load of tobacco — it subsidizes his actual food that he’s selling there.”
However, Mayor Rita Ali noted the site approval is merely the first step toward receiving a liquor license. In her role as liquor commissioner, Ali will have the final say, and she previously has shown a willingness to deny licenses in spite of site approval.
“If there’s justification. If there’s not justification [for denial], then I cannot. I will not,” said Ali, who was among the minority voting against the site approval.
The store’s site application had been deferred four times, with Carmona noting the owner had made improvements to the location in hopes of gaining council support. Carmona noted King Zone management has agreed to a strict business plan that limits how much alcohol can be on the display floor.
Additionally, the police department will have access to King Zone’s security cameras through its FUSUS system — with the store’s owner paying a $900 annual fee for installing and operating the cameras.
Other special conditions include removing debris from the property and adjacent parcels on a daily basis, installing exterior LED lighting, keeping all hard liquor behind the sales counter, and no on-site alcohol consumption.
“I think we’d all be hard-pressed to find any business owner that would operate a grocery store and name its business as such — as well as agree to such strict special conditions for a license simply to prove its loyalty and commitment remaining your grocery store — as a ploy to possibly open solely a liquor store,” said community advocate Darcie Cady, who spoke on King Zone’s behalf at Carmona’s request. “Not only would it be a terrible business model, but I do believe it would be an unsuccessful one, too.”
However, Jessie McGowan, another long-time neighborhood advocate, spoke passionately against allowing the establishment to serve liquor.
“I’ve seen the East Bluff at its best, I’ve seen it at its worst, and it’s getting bad again. It’s getting real bad again,” said McGowan, referencing crime in the area. “This is not a grocery store, this is a liquor store, and it’s like having a fire that’s dying down and now you’re going to pour gasoline on it. It’s ridiculous putting alcohol in this area, and I don’t understand why.”
Third District council member Tim Riggenbach said he initially thought he would oppose the site application when it was first brought forward, but he was convinced to change his stance.
“We have a small business owner trying to make his neighborhood a better place,” said Riggenbach. “I think he deserves that opportunity, and I don’t say that lightly. I just think that this has the opportunity for something that could be a real example for us all in the future.”
Ali said she believed the police and liquor commission’s recommendations for denial merited support.
“They have very good reason for recommending of denial when crime calls have increased. They’ve doubled since this time last year,” said Ali, who was joined in opposition by council members Denise Jackson, Bernice Gordon-Young, Mike Vespa and Andre Allen.
“I’ve never seen this council ignore resident concerns at this level, police concerns at this level, our commission’s concerns at this level, and I think this sets a bad precedent,” she said.
Following the meeting, Ali told reporters the next step would be for the police department to conduct a background check for the liquor commission.
“Then that information comes to me as the liquor commissioner and ultimately I’ll make a decision on whether they get a liquor license or not,” she said. “You never know what comes back from a police background investigation, so I don’t know where things will land.”
