Joliet Food Mart Opens After City Council Rejection In 2023

JOLIET — What a difference an entire year makes. Last November, Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy convinced the Joliet City Council to go along with his recommendation to reject a proposed Class C liquor license for a newly proposed business, Osho's Wine & Spirits, at the mostly empty commercial strip mall in the 400 block of South Chicago Street, near the Dunkin'.

Despite being rejected by the Joliet Council 11 months ago, Osho's just opened for business on October 3.

How in the world did that happen, you ask?

The Osho's Wine & Spirits project turned into the Osho's Food Mart project.

The owners of Osho's went ahead with their backup plans of opening a convenience store on the property. They are not selling any liquor inside their new convenience store, store employees pointed out to Joliet Patch.

The November 2023 resolution before the Joliet City Councilcalled for the denial of the proposed Class C liquor license for Osho's Wine & Spirits.

D'Arcy's letter urging the liquor license denial notes there have been 807 Joliet Police Department calls for service in the area "including several violent crimes" during the past two years.

On Wednesday, Joliet Patch visited Osho's and learned that it's now open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Osho's carries a wide variety of smoke accessories, medicine and lots of food, including plenty of pop and chips.

The following photos showcase some of the merchandise now being sold at Osho's, which occupies 412-422 South Chicago Street.