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ABC denied for Mosby Express Market
11/05/2010 4:39 PM by John M
The ABC application for the new Mosby Express Market and Deli (PDF) at 715 Mosby Street was DENIED, citing among other reasons:
The evidence established that there is a significant amount of drinking in public, littering, public intoxication, noise, public urination and loitering throughout the neighborhood as a result of the sale of alcohol by off-premises licensees in the community.
GOOD. Anything we can do about the customers sauntering across the street in front of cars all the time in order to get over there? I am growing tired of feeling like I am the problem for driving the speed limit towards a green light and having to honk my horn at people that are just jaywalking slowly and cursing and waving their arms at people in their cars.
And seriously, what’s up with the random yard sales?
The reason for denial is honest and supportive. Maybe the owners will give it a try selling non alcoholic products, clean up behind the customers,contribute positively to the community,and stop “hanging out” in the alley (yes, the proprietor walks the alleys during lull times making phone calls).
Thanks to all who participated and saw this process to a reasonable conclusion.
Can the proprietor appeal?
I habe been told that he deadline to file an appeal is November 29 and that as of yet no appeal has been filed.
Shoot, by that criteria can’t we get rid of a lot of ABC licenses for corner stores in the neighborhood?
Union Hill folk should be exceedingly proud of their work to stop the proliferation of another unscrupulous ghetto mart in the neighborhood. There were many more neighbors and property owners who testified who are not mentioned in the ABC opinion John has linked too. The only person who testified in favor of an unlimited ABC license to sell 40s, split cases, and malt liquor came as a representative of the Temple of Judah on Venable Street.
Ghetto marts do not cause ghettoness; they are simply a symptom of a significant population of ghetto people within walking distance. Last I checked Mosby skreet is next to Mosby Court Housing projects. nothing, nothing, absofuckinloutly nothing will ever change the demographics (and hence, murder rate, litter production, drunkenness, public urination, theft rate, general trashiness, etc.) along Mosby skreet until that population is legislated out by RRHA…. or learns how to behave in civilization(good luck waiting for evolution). Not having a liquor license just means that ghetto population walks to the other ghetto mart 2 blocks down Mosby. Same difference.
Personally I’m happy to see that at least someone is brave enough to hire people, generate income & tax base, and earn a profit off an otherwise commercial wasteland. Those korean and arab dudes risk their lives to bring malt liquor and loosies to an eager, and underserved market. I honestly have nothing but respect for their ability to make chicken salad out of chicken shit.
This denial is based on misdirected anger at having to deal with the welfare class and the consequences of its complete failure on a daily basis. A better solution here is to lobby RRHA and HUD to close Mosby south(or central.. whatever that cancer is called) and let the open, free, real estate market determine who gets to live across the bridge from downtown, with skyline views.
I’m guessing no-body will bitch when the same eautrepenuers apply to sell wine and microbrew by the bottle or glass.
JimJam, there really isn’t anything (reasonable) that we can so about “people sauntering across the street” in the middle of the 500 block of Mosby to get to the store.
This is one of the things R63 zoning for Union Hill was designed to discourage by placing commercial activities at the corners, and not allowing them mid-block.
However, the Mosby Express Mart is situated on a grandfathered B2 lot (technically, it’s a non-conforming R63 lot that enjoys the older uses of its former B2 status because the current business opened within 2 years of the R63 zoning ordinance date.)
I am absolutely certain that the Blue Wheeler’s (N 32nd and E Marshall) ABC license could/should be yanked if they were held to the standards listed above.
Hey guys! I have an idea: Why don’t we reinstate prohibition. I’m sure that will stop alcoholics and other miscreants from drinking!
#9 Lucky Dog, then please file a complaint with the ABC. I lived a block away from it a few years ago, do not live that close now, but I agree with you. Some people I knew said they had great beer selection and were convenient for some items, but the loiterers and trash kept me away. Blue Wheeler may offer a service by being a convenient walk for some to buy milk or other essentials, but perhaps a few complaints to the ABC would clean it up.
There used to be a bunch of such stores lining Jefferson Ave. as well as other streets and through the years they have mostly gone away for a variety of reasons, some because they sold stolen goods then got caught, and others because of vigilant neighbors filing complaints and staying involved. If you live close enough to get your point across to the ABC then please do and good luck to you!
Unfortunately, having an ABC license denied is, while difficult, far easier than having it revoked once issued. The only way to get the Clay Street Market, Blue Wheeler, Family Market, Ocean Grocery, etc. to discontinue the sale of products that attract loiterers is to have an ABC violation substantiated and subsequently add a special condition to their existing license (no sale of 40s, split cases, single servings of alcohol). Of course, you could also ask them to do so voluntarily.
Call Church Hill’s ABC agent if you see a violation.
Agent Anthony Jimenez:
(804) 213-4636
ANTHONY.JIMENEZ@ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV
The amount of trash picked up today by the VCU Green Unity/Union Hill folks was amazing. Especially along the 700/800 blocks of Mosby, the alley, and in the lots adjacent to the Mosby Express Mart. The volume of trash got more intense the closer we got to the entrance of the store.
There were lots and lots of bottles, cans, cig packs and blunt wrappers, chip bags, candy wrappers, you name it.
We discovered that the the vacant lot next to the store is simply a dump. Yeah, the grass might be cut so it looks ok from the street. But OMG, once we walked up into the lot, we found piles of bottles and decaying trash all over the place.
Nasty, gross and just down right pitiful.
Please don’t try and get the Blue Wheeler’s license revoked. Many, many of us use the Wheeler to buy 6 and 12 packs when we run out of beer during parties and don’t want to drive after drinking. Please don’t assume that everyone using the Wheeler is buying 40s. The owners are nice people and the Wheeler could be a better place if its windows were opened up.
Amy #14 – I may be older now but there was a time when I was younger and ran out of beer, and nowdays I wouldn’t want to drive either – and I’m glad you don’t when you need beer. Having said that, I’ve got a suggestion or two for you.
Blue Wheeler LOOKS like a ghetto store. I DO know people who shop there, even for such innocuous things as milk – and others who buy beer there. SO, why don’t you spearhead a movement to get the owners to clean it up in every way? Start with removing all those tobacco posters that cover the windows and imply that they don’t want you to see inside, meaning something is going on that should not be seen. If you will walk down Marshall and Broad Streets, you will find others who use that store – and also along the side streets, 32nd, etc. Go talk to the owners, and go up and down the streets and get others either to do same or sign something (a petition?) to the owners.
Move on from that to trash and the loiterers, but you gotta start somewhere. You’ve posted here, surely it isn’t a big step to become an activist. Go for it, please! This is not intended as anything other than a comment meaning ‘you go girl!’ I look forward to hearing and seeing positive things in a couple of months, thanks!
I certainly don’t want to close down the BW but I agree that it looks totally ghetto. There are a lot of people in CH that do use the store, but there are just as many people, if not more, that would never step foot in the BW because they think its really scarey. I would love a neighborhood alliance to approach the owners about cleaning up the property and making it more of a neighborhood store. I live near the BW and the only reason that the intersection of E Marshall and N 32nd isn’t covered with litter is because people who live in that area pick up the trash. When the new pizza and beer store opens at E Broad and N 28th, the BW is going to see a lot of their business go away. If any CH folks want to get together as a group and approach the BW owners about cleaning up the store, email me at adhuilmadra@aol.com. I think the BW owners might welcome some suggestions.
@16 Are you suggesting that when the place at “29th” and Broad opens,the trash problems that are common around the Wheeler will also be coming to Broad Street?
No, absolutely not!! It’s a totally different type of business. I am not sure what I said that made you think I was suggesting the new business would create trash. What I meant to suggest was that some of us that go to the BW for a 6-pack would maybe prefer to go to this new place instead, which will mean a loss of business for the BW. The people that go to the BW for 40s and Wild Irish Rose will continue to do so because I don’t think the new place will stock those particular items.