Another beer law revision on Joliet council agenda

The Joliet City Council on Tuesday will consider lifting a nearly 10-year-old restriction on single-container beer sales from liquor stores in the downtown area.

The vote will come on the same night the council considers removing a general ban on packaged beer and wine sales at gas stations. The two issues arose separately, although both involve the new Thorntons gas station that opened last year at Jackson and Collins streets with a special license allowing beer and wine sales along with video gambling.

Three liquor stores affected by the downtown ban have contended it gives nearby competitors that fall outside the boundary of the restricted area an unfair advantage.

The restriction put in place in 2012 prohibits the sale of beer in containers of 40 ounces or less within the downtown Tax Increment Financing District and 1,000 feet outside the district boundary. The law restricts the sale of 40-ounce beer bottles and 24-ounce cans commonly found elsewhere in the city.

One such location is the Thornton’s gas station, noted the owner of Jackson Liquors at a council committee meeting last year. Sonny Trivedi contended his store, which is in the restricted area, loses business to the Thorntons, which is just outside of the zone.

Other stores affected by the downtown area ban are Ranch Liquors, located across Jefferson Street from the new Will County Courthouse, and Mimi Liquors on Cass Street.

The council separately on Tuesday will consider a new liquor license allowing packaged beer and wine sales at gas stations and a video gambling license with on-site beer and wine consumption at the Mobil station at Broadway and Theodore streets.

The owner of the Mobil station won an appeal to the Illinois Liquor Commission after the city turned him down for the same license awarded the Thorntons station. The city is creating a new liquor license allowing video gambling but limiting the total number to two.