Our office supports the request to lift the liquor moratorium at 2033 W. Howard based on the robust community feedback we received. 

The proposal comes from Gaurav Patel, who originally contacted our office with a proposal to open a liquor store at the location. After reviewing the initial plans, Mr. Patel modified the proposal to instead serve as a grocery store. The store will dedicate 20% of its sales to liquor sales, which will be codified through a Plan of Operations submitted to the city. If the Plan of Operations is violated, Mr. Patel would face suspension of the liquor license. 

The grocery store will offer area residents a variety of fresh produce, prepared items, and children's school supplies. Mr. Patel has committed to not selling malt liquor or fortified wine out of the store. Additionally, Mr. Patel will allocate 10% of annual profits towards violence intervention programs for the neighborhood and provide internship opportunities for high school teenagers who live in the community. 

I want to thank Mr. Patel for working closely with my office to develop a proposal that reflects the community's values. Mr. Patel has taken the feedback and concerns to create a proposal that will help revitalization efforts along the Howard corridor.