City Won't Have Another, Denies License for Liquor Store

City council members could not swallow plans to convert a convenience store into a liquor store only. 

Stop 'N' Go Food and Liquor store, 5214 W. 159th Street, was up for a change in ownership and liquor license Dec. 11—but all other changes came to a screeching stop after aldermen unanimously voted down the liquor license changes. 

The proposed change in licensing would have meant a decrease in the existing one, then granting new one—both standard procedure in a case like this, according to Mayor Hank Kuspa. 

It's unclear why aldermen decided against the change. Phone calls to Community Development Director Adam Dotson went unreturned. 

Following the denial of the liquor license decrease, two other related items were struck from the agenda. The first, an increase in the number of liquor licenses that would be need should the store change ownership. The second, was for a special use permit to change the store to a liquor store only.

“Because we did not vacate the old license, item D under administration will be pulled,” Kuspa said following the failure of the first motion.

Oak Forest Planning and Zoning Commission previously moved to approve the special use permit for the liquor store at its May 3 meeting, steering the matter into the city council's consideration. 

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