By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Neighbors living near Bloomington’s Miller Park celebrated Monday night after the city council voted 5-4 to turn down a liquor license for a new convenience store.
Ajeet Singh’s agreement to lease the former West Side Food and Beverage at 906 S. Morris Ave. was contingent on receiving permission to sell packaged alcohol, in addition to food items. Area homeowners feared alcohol sales there would mean drunk customers returning to their neighborhood, harassing residents, urinating, and dumping trash outside.
The building is in council member Jenn Carrillo Ward 6. Carrillo sided with neighbors even though she believed Singh is an upstanding business person wishing to invest on the west side.
“I don’t believe they have demonstrated that there’s a need for this liquor license,” Carrillo said.
Council members Donna Boelen, Joni Painter, Mboka Mwilambwe, and Kimberly Bray also voted to reject the liquor license.
Bray noted the location is very close to the city’s iconic Miller Park, in which the council recently invested $900,000 for a new concession stand, extra parking, and a new roof for the entrance to Miller Park Zoo.
“We’ve just invested significant amounts of money, and so I have a concern what the impact would be on our Miller Park, and all the activities there with a liquor establishment again so close,” Bray said.
Council member Julie Emig supported the license request. She said having a business there is better than having a vacant building.
“I do not think it would be right to essentially prevent and punish all future establishments from operating a successful business on that lot due to the ill-run liquor store, which West Side (Food and Beverage) was,” said Emig.
Council member Jeff Crabill also voted with the minority.
“Ultimately, we have someone wanting to invest significant sums on the west side. We have concerns based on past experience, but it’s speculation to say that those things will happen under better management and under a different kind of store,” Crabill said.
Also favoring the liquor license were council members Scott Black and Jamie Mathy.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
