Joliet May Reject Large Liquor Store At 2155 W. Jefferson Street

JOLIET, IL - Plans to open a large volume liquor store at 2155 West Jefferson Street called Joliet Market have hit a snag at Joliet City Hall. At Tuesday night's Joliet City Council meeting, the council will be asked to follow the recommendation of Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Bob O'Dekirk and City Manager David Hales. The pair are urging the denial of a Class C liquor license for this location.

If approved, Joliet Market would occupy about 12,000 square feet. It would go across the street from the Marycrest Shopping Plaza. However, a couple of influential business officials in the immediate area, Connie Sondag of Basinger's Pharmacy and Tom Knorr of Sidelines bar, addressed Joliet's Liquor Commission months ago, strongly urging the city to turn down the Joliet Market venture.

Basinger's bought the old Senor Tequila's Restaurant and has plans to demolish the building to put up a new pharmacy and liquor store on the property. Joliet Market would locate two lots away.

"A public hearing was conducted during which a representative from Basinger's appeared and indicated that, if this license were approved, that (the Basinger's) development would not occur," states the council memo.

The memo recommending the denial by the Joliet City Council also notes how there are 20 existing liquor licenses within a one-mile radius of the proposed Joliet Market and 203 overall in Joliet.

The applicants for Joliet Market are Thaer Jbara, Kenjal Patel and Silken Patel. According to their Class C license proposal, Thaer Jbara has 12 years experience with selling alcohol. The site of the proposed Joliet Market also meets the city's zoning regulations for the area.

"Based upon the saturation of liquor licenses in the vicinity as well as the impact that this additional one would have on the area, as well as the negative impact on development, the Liquor Commissioner wishes to deny this application," the council memo states.

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