Cub gets OK to add liquor

Talk about it

Much to the chagrin of the other liquor store owners in Rosemount, Cub Foods received an off-sale intoxicating liquor license during the Rosemount City council’s April 21 meeting. The council approved the application despite pleas from a number of people to not add another liquor store to the community.

Cub plans to put a liquor store in the former Mae’s Hallmark Store, which is located next door to its Rosemount store off of County Road 42. Cub hopes to open the store Memorial Day weekend. Cub Foods is owned by Supervalu.

The store currently sells beer and malt liquor under an off-sale 3.2 liquor license. That license will be forfeited with the new license and the opening of the Cub Liquors.

Before the council voted, city clerk Amy Domeier told the council a background investigation revealed no reason to deny the request. Since the store opened in 2001 it has had only one violation for the sale to an underage individual.

Representatives from Shenanigan’s Liquor Store and Rosemount Liquor Mart and Wine Cellar asked the council to consider them and what the additional store could do to business when deciding. Owners of both stores also asked the council to research the topic and public safety implications more before making a decision.

Apurva Patel, who had sent council members several studies done by the University of Minnesota, said the council needed to consider the density of liquor stores and its impact on public safety. He encouraged the council to delay a decision and to do more research.

Shenanigan’s manager Sharon Watschke told the council she was concerned about the number of stores already located in the city and what effect opening another would have on the others. She admitted she was concerned that if another store opened it could lead to one of the others closing, which would mean lost jobs.

“At what point in time are you arbitrarily going to say enough is enough?” said Rich Carlson, a resident who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting.

Sean Shumacher, owner of Rosemount Liquor and Wine Cellar, gave the council a petition with 375 signatures asking the council not to allow the license.

While the city council members empathized with the crowd, they still approved the license.

“I don’t feel comfortable telling a business how to do their business,” council member Kim Shoe-Corrigan said before voting in favor of the license.

Words from city attorney Charlie LeFevre seemed to close the deal for most of the council. He told the council they could not base their decision on whether it would effect other local businesses. Additionally, he said any decision to not grant the license would need to be backed up by an ordinance or legitimate public safety concerns.

With that in mind the council unanimously chose to approve the motion.

Ann Thies, with Supervalu, said Cub is looking forward to providing an additional service to its customers.

Tags: news, cub, liquor, license