L & M Store License Renewal Appeal Denied

L & M Convenience Store allegedly violated its town license by having open containers of alcohol and creating a public nuisance, according to Summerville Mayor Bill Collins. 

The store, located at West 5th North Street near North Birch Street, had its business license renewal denied by town staff in September. On Wednesday, the owner appealed to town council during a special meeting at . However, council upheld the decision, 6-1, to deny the renewal. 

Councilman Aaron Brown opposed the denial.

Summerville doesn't revoke business licenses often, according to town Director of Finance Belinda Harper, who described the action as "extremely infrequent." The decision was made by staff to refuse the renewal after the police and town solicitor brought the issues to town's attention.

According to the mayor, convenience store was locked at odd hours and, while it had a license to sell beer, it did not have a license to have open containers on the premise. 

The street has attracted the attention of the police with numerous calls, according to Councilman Bob Jackson. 

"It's supposed to be a convenience store ... but it has very little convenience store product and a lot of open containers," Jackson said in a telephone interview Friday.

According to Collins, the store's owner has now applied for a beauty supply license with the town, which will likely be allowed.