The Bloomington Liquor Commission has rejected an application for a liquor license from an out-of-town businessman who sought to open a packaged liquor store in an abandoned Family Video building near the Park Place subdivision in west Bloomington.
The proposed shop, called Galaxy Liquor and Smoke, would have been situated by a Little Caesars pizza business in the shopping center near Jewel Osco, a grocery store that holds a Normal liquor license and also sells packaged alcohol and nicotine products. The property is located at 2210 N. Cottage Ave.
The applicant was Mauli Inc. The owner, Narendra Patel, owns similar establishments in Mahomet and Mansfield. Patel does not live in McLean County.
The application was opposed by a large number of the subdivision’s residents, who turned out in large numbers to speak against it at the most recent liquor commission meeting. Their concerns included the potential for higher crime and noise pollution, devaluation of surrounding properties, the proposed business’ proximity to a nursing home, and the existing availability of similar products at the adjacent Jewel-Osco.
Patel’s lawyer, Michael Scott, argued that the shop would bring new business to the area, generate significant tax revenue for the city, and make use of a building that has sat empty for several years.
Bloomington mayor and liquor commissioner Mboka Mwilambwe released his decision to deny the license 10 days after residents voiced their concerns during a public hearing. He cited four factors in making his decision: the absence of an owner or manager who is a McLean County resident, the proximity of the proposed business to the nursing home, the nature of the business, and the potential for a “negative impact on the surrounding community.”
Both at the meeting and in the decision, Mwilambwe noted that it is “highly unusual” for the applicant to not have already hired a general manager to run the business. Patel stated at the hearing that he did not wish to hire a manager before knowing he would have a license.
However, the city requires that either the owner or the manager be a McLean County resident, and the liquor commission is accustomed to being able to ask questions of the potential manager before making its decision.
The city also requires that such an establishment not be located less than 100 feet from a “home for the aged.” There was a dispute between the owner and residents about whether the distance was just around or slightly less than 100 feet from the nursing home.
The commission found in its decision that this nursing home does count as a “home for the aged,” and cited a resident’s testimony that it is located only 80 feet from the proposed shop location as a basis for denial.
For the final two factors, Mwilambwe referred back to resident testimony. He noted that the Jewel-Osco already provides a comparable service to the area, and that many residents have legitimate concerns about the presence of a packaged liquor store in their neighborhood.
“There was quite a bit of information that was produced at the liquor commission hearing, more than is typical,” Mwilambwe told WGLT as explanation for why he took the application under careful consideration.
Mwilambwe also said that he wished there had been a general manager included in the application so that “we could at least check their credentials and see if they could qualify.”
“Another thing is that there was quite a bit of opposition from the neighbors, so I took that under advisement,” he concluded. “I think it was really important. Some of them talked about preserving the character of the neighborhood and they were concerned about… increased crime,” along with preserving the “residential feel” of the area.
Mwilambwe also said that he “didn’t feel like this was going to add anything different for the benefit of the neighbors,” adding that the owner revealed he was not going to sell products that were substantially different from those available at the grocery store.
