Olivette Considering Changing Liquor Sales Ordinance

has plans to expand and has petitioned the City of Olivette to allow for the sale of alcohol at this location.

Presently, Olivette does not allow the sale of package liquor at gas stations and convenience marts. Sale of alcohol for carry out purposes is allowed at the two liquor stores presently in Olivette, Smoke Land at 9495 Olive Blvd. and Arena Liquor at 9612 Olive. plus the two drugstores, Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy.

A change of ordinance will jump that number from four places to all the gas stations in the city. Some citizens have expressed their concerns with this outcome.

The city's Planning & Community Design Commission (PCDC) has been asked to review the entire MVOB (Motor Vehicle Operated Businesses) and this is one aspect.

The Wallis Companies, a distributor of gasoline runs Mobil Mart and has asked the city council previously to change the ordinance.

The Olivette City Council will have a second reading of a bill to revise the ordinance Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Wallis has proposed buying a vacant office building immediately behind their Olivette location, and expanding the mart to a much larger facility. The council is considering limiting the sale of alcohol to gas stations that are only 2,300 square feet or larger. That would eliminate other gas stations, namely the two BP Amoco stations in Olivette from competing.

One strange thing is that the ordinance would allow for the expansion of Mobil actually includes the Olivette 66 station and the Jiffy Lube as gasoline stations.