The Peoria City Council has narrowly approved a site application for King Zone Grocery & Grill to sell package liquor, a decision that went against recommendations from the liquor commission and police department. The 6-5 vote moves the East Bluff store one step closer to obtaining a license, but Mayor Rita Ali, in her role as liquor commissioner, will make the ultimate decision.
Key Takeaways
- The Peoria City Council voted 6-5 to approve the site application for King Zone Grocery & Grill to sell package liquor.
- This decision overrides recommendations from the liquor commission and police department.
- Mayor Rita Ali, as liquor commissioner, has the final authority to grant or deny the liquor license.
- Concerns about rising crime in the East Bluff area were raised by opponents of the store’s liquor license.
- Several special conditions have been agreed upon by King Zone management to mitigate potential issues.
A Contentious Decision
Council member Alex Carmona, a proponent of the site approval, emphasized that King Zone would remain primarily a grocery store, with liquor sales constituting a small portion of its business. He argued that alcohol sales would subsidize the store’s core grocery offerings. Carmona highlighted improvements made by the owner and a strict business plan, including limitations on alcohol display and daily debris removal from the property.
Lingering Concerns and Special Conditions
Despite the council’s approval, Mayor Ali expressed reservations, noting that the site approval is only the initial step. She stated her willingness to deny licenses if justification exists, citing increased crime calls in the area as a significant concern. The police department and liquor commission had recommended denial. To address these concerns, King Zone has agreed to several special conditions. These include:
- Limiting the display floor space for alcohol.
- Allowing police access to security cameras via the FUSUS system, with the store owner covering a $900 annual fee.
- Daily removal of debris from the property and adjacent parcels.
- Installation of exterior LED lighting.
- Keeping all hard liquor behind the sales counter.
- Prohibiting on-site alcohol consumption.
Community Voices Divided
Community advocate Darcie Cady spoke in favor of King Zone, arguing that the strict conditions demonstrate the owner’s commitment to remaining a grocery store and that a business model solely focused on liquor would be unsuccessful. However, long-time neighborhood advocate Jessie McGowan passionately opposed the move, citing a worsening crime situation in the East Bluff and calling the addition of alcohol sales "ridiculous."
The Mayor’s Final Authority
Council member Tim Riggenbach, initially hesitant, was convinced to support the application, believing the owner deserves an opportunity to improve his neighborhood. Mayor Ali, however, maintained her stance, emphasizing the validity of the police and liquor commission’s concerns due to a doubling of crime calls. She stated that the next step involves a police background check, after which she will make the final decision as liquor commissioner. "You never know what comes back from a police background investigation, so I don’t know where things will land," Ali commented.
