Above Public Objection, Olivette Approves Liquor Sales at Gasoline Stations

Despite the pleas from some leaders of the Olivette community, the city council and mayor, by vote of 4-0 repealed provisions of the municipal code dealing with the sale of intoxicating liquor by places where motor fuel is offered for sale.

By that, the sale of liquor is no longer restricted to the two local liquor stores, Smoke Land and or the two drug stores Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy.

Now, everyone who sells gas can get a piece of the action. That could be up to a dozen outlets.

At the very same meeting, Police Chief Rick Knox requested and was granted permission to apply for grants from the Missouri Department of Transportation to cut down on drunken driving in the city.

Generally speaking, council member decided above the objection of speakers to go ahead and revise the ordinance.

The Wallis Companies, which distributes gasoline to stations county wide pushed for this revision. They have plans to expand the Mobil Mart on Olive Street with a larger building and to be able to sell alcohol and other spirits.

The work of Olivette is being done in sections. The council previously asked the Planning & Community Design Commission to review the entire provision of MVOB (Motor Vision Operated Businesses). Anxious to bring more business to a stagnant city, council members looked the other way and joined 89 other local municipalities to sell booze out of service stations. Only Richmond Heights is the lone holdout.

Harriet Kopolow doesn’t like it at all. She is a long-time program director for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse locally and knows the full results of teens and drinking.

“Often, youngsters who purchase beer will be drinking right on the parking lot where they bought it," said Kopolow.

Greg Yawitz, who developed the Shoppes at Price Crossing in Olivette is concerned about the “grab and go crowd. “Sometimes, stores will put large liquor displays within 36 inches of the door. You know how easy that is to grab something and run?” questioned Yawitz.

Mark Bernacki, proprietor of Lobo Direct, an internet provider wants to strike some kind of happy medium. “I don’t want to see us becoming liquor row on Olive Street," said Bernacki.

None of that seemed to matter to the council, especially members Jean Antoine and Leif Hauser who led the discussion. Neither thought there was a compelling reason not to change the ordinance.

“It is just unfair to have a legal business in our city be prohibited from selling any particular product,” said Antoine. 

“If we are really concerned about DWI (drinking while driving), then we should be concerned with bars and taverns,” said Hauser. Olivette only has Fallon's Bar & Grill.

Council member Missy Waldman was absent, away for religious reasons and did not vote.