Council asks for additional review of Omaha store’s liquor license; Neighborhood pushes back

The council's vote came after several community members expressed support for T&A Grocery at the meeting.

Read the full article on KETV 7

Tuesday, the Omaha City Council voted 6-1 to require T&A Grocery to submit a “longform” application for a liquor license. The store, at 42nd and Bedford and recently renamed from JNJ Grocery, had two shootings just outside the store in September last year. Police told KETV then that the area is a crime hotspot and noted an “uptick.”Councilmember LaVonya Goodwin says the council’s law committee reviews licenses monthly. She pointed to a high amount of crime in the area as a reason for additional review. The council’s vote came after several community members expressed support for T&A Grocery at the meeting. They said the store does not cause the crime in the area, and praised it for providing friendly service and hosting community events.Goodwin said many of her constituents have told her about their concerns. She expects they’d attend a future council hearing in which the council would vote on a recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission on whether the application should be approved. A city attorney’s note on Tuesday’s vote noted that “the only question at this time is whether there is sufficient reason to investigate to see if the licensee no longer meets the license qualifications.” The letter also noted T&A failed a compliance check and sold alcohol to a minor last year. The city clarified during the council meeting that the sale to a minor occurred at a different location, which they believe is associated with the 42nd and Bedford ownership. Goodwin and other councilmembers said their votes do not mean they’ll ultimately vote not to recommend approval of the application to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Goodwin said it’s “not an act of hostility, but rather an act of stewardship.” She said it’s the city’s responsibility to do everything in its power to reduce crime.The attorney for T&A Grocery, David Houghton, highlighted the lack of other grocery options for the community.He added, “If you pull the liquor license … he cannot stay in business. And an empty, vacant building is not going to stop the crime in the area.”The store’s owner said he is willing to work with the city to combat crime in the area. He told the council that he added more cameras, lighting, and trespassing signs at the request of the police. Brinker Harding was the lone vote against the measure. Houghton told the council that the vote sends a strong message against the store, but a city attorney disagreed, stating that the council will take another recommendation vote on the store.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

Tuesday, the Omaha City Council voted 6-1 to require T&A Grocery to submit a “longform” application for a liquor license.

The store, at 42nd and Bedford and recently renamed from JNJ Grocery, had two shootings just outside the store in September last year. Police told KETV then that the area is a crime hotspot and noted an “uptick.”

Councilmember LaVonya Goodwin says the council’s law committee reviews licenses monthly. She pointed to a high amount of crime in the area as a reason for additional review.

The council’s vote came after several community members expressed support for T&A Grocery at the meeting. They said the store does not cause the crime in the area, and praised it for providing friendly service and hosting community events.

Goodwin said many of her constituents have told her about their concerns. She expects they’d attend a future council hearing in which the council would vote on a recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission on whether the application should be approved.

A city attorney’s note on Tuesday’s vote noted that “the only question at this time is whether there is sufficient reason to investigate to see if the licensee no longer meets the license qualifications.”

The letter also noted T&A failed a compliance check and sold alcohol to a minor last year. The city clarified during the council meeting that the sale to a minor occurred at a different location, which they believe is associated with the 42nd and Bedford ownership.

Goodwin and other councilmembers said their votes do not mean they’ll ultimately vote not to recommend approval of the application to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.
Goodwin said it’s “not an act of hostility, but rather an act of stewardship.” She said it’s the city’s responsibility to do everything in its power to reduce crime.

The attorney for T&A Grocery, David Houghton, highlighted the lack of other grocery options for the community.

He added, “If you pull the liquor license … he cannot stay in business. And an empty, vacant building is not going to stop the crime in the area.”

The store’s owner said he is willing to work with the city to combat crime in the area. He told the council that he added more cameras, lighting, and trespassing signs at the request of the police.

Brinker Harding was the lone vote against the measure.

Houghton told the council that the vote sends a strong message against the store, but a city attorney disagreed, stating that the council will take another recommendation vote on the store.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.