Green Top Grocery cooperative won approval from the Bloomington City Council for a new liquor license classification. It would allow customers at food stores to buy packaged beer and wine, and then consume the alcohol at the business. (File photo) 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington aldermen have unanimously adopted a new type of liquor license that allows buyers of packaged beer and wine to open the packages and drink at the stores where they made the purchases.

Aldermen delayed action two weeks ago because they believed the ordinance was too broad. City staffers presented a revised measure allowing only establishments that do most of their business selling food, and gas stations are not eligible to apply for the license.

Green Top Grocery, the year-old cooperative on East Washington, asked for the new license classification. Mayor Tari Renner believes other businesses will benefit too.

“We obviously had Green Top Grocery making this request, but this is not a Green Top Grocery category. It’s just a category that would fit this type of business model that could serve future businesses downtown or in other areas of our community,” said Renner.

The council was also unanimous in agreeing to start regular council meetings an hour earlier at 6 p.m. City Manager Tim Gleason sees efficiencies in the move because there will be less of a need to schedule special meetings.

“It was not uncommon to have special meetings in front of council meetings, and thus they’re really not special meetings,” said Gleason.

The new city manager said the 6 p.m. start is late enough for people to get home from work, eat dinner, see the family, and get to city hall for the meeting.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]