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Five Corners Mini Mart seeking ABC on Venable Street
08/02/2011 1:16 PM by John M
Five Corners Mini Mart has applied for an ABC off for beer and wine license for 2001 Venable Street (Venable at Mosby Street).
Here we go again.
First and foremost, I am not against business, I am pro business when it contributes positively to Union Hill. I do not support “40” shops.
Mosby Deli and Mart was supported by a few persons on this blog, these supporters said “give them a chance, they will be good for the community”. Mosby Deli and Mart has been absolutely devastating to this community. The grounds are filthy, the building is unkept, the signage is “ghetto”, the landscaping is no landscaping. The proprietor is unknown and the shop keeper sits in the alley during lulls and throws trash in the alley. The place is a disaster and guess what,they do not sell liquor. Just imagine that place with a liquor license of any type! I dare anyone of the previous supporters to show me how Mosby Deli Mart has impacted that section of Union Hill positively. They were robbed last week so I guess you could say that was money returned to the community.
Now we have Mr. Dowed who wants to put a “Convenience” store at the corner of Venable and Mosby, one of the gateways to Union Hill and half block from Mosby Deli Mart. Seriously, you are kidding, right. We should never support him or anyone else who wants to open “40” shops in this community. Please contact ABC and let them know we do not want this in our community and remember, that building is in Union Hill.
I suggest they try Sesame St for A B C….
You can electronically register your objection to this store’s application for an ABC license. Go to http://www.abc.virginia.gov/complaint/controller.jsp
Fill in the blanks (all the info you need is shown above in the story and photo of the application).
The more complaints filed, the greater the chances we’ll get a public hearing to formally voice our objections to the ABC commissioner who will decide whether this store gets it’s license.
I’d recommend you include your name and email address so the ABC folks can notify you of any upcoming hearing dates.
Thanks everyone, for taking a moment to voice their objection to the ABC.
Thanks Cap Gal! Quick and easy way to object!
Jules, aren’t you being just a tad melodramatic? “Mosby Deli and Mart has been absolutely devastating to this community” – really, by whose standards? I personally agree with you that it is a nasty looking place, but every time I drive by or ride my bike past the place I almost always have to slow to let pedestrians cross the street on their way to and from the place. It is clearly serving some community’s needs. Perhaps not the “community” that you consider yourself a part of, but another “community” in the area. Think about it, if you are on foot in the area around Mosby Mart and want a soda and chips how far would you have to walk to get such items if the Mosby Mart was not there? Not much else around there. Like I said, I agree that the Mosby Mart is nasty, but the 5 corners mini-mart site is way more attractive and has way more potential to be a decent, relatively attractive establishment. Maybe rather than fighting it, encouraging the 5 corners to be a more attractive, safe and responsible neighbor that can out compete the nastiness that is the Mosby Mart would be a better approach than making it impossible for 5 corners to operate profitably without alcohol.
P.S. – 5 corners will have at the most beer and wine. It will not sell liquor. Only ABC stores can do that.
P.P.S – being robbed does not mean a business is a bad, irresponsible neighbor. Blaming the victim is not fair.
I don’t care how innocent or well meaning a local corner mart in the Union Hill area looks or claims to be. The bottom line is this: There is a definite association between selling beer and wine (especially 40s) and increased crime, loitering, and littering in the area around the corner market. Yes, in other areas of Church Hill and Union Hill (and even the rest of the city) corner markets can sell beer and wine without issue. But, until this area is cleaned up and a little more stable, it seems prudent to limit new ABC OFF licenses.
This has robbery written all over it.
We made contact today with ABC Officer Anthony Jimenez about this application. He’s been the officer for the Church Hill/Union Hill area for many years and has been very, very helpful in opposing ABC licenses in the area.
At this stage in the application process, Jimenez advises that the most potent way of fighting this application is to CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY and voice your concerns. This way, he can compile all the complaints into one file and be ready for the hearing.
Anthony Jimenez can be reached via email at anthony.jimenez@abc.virginia.gov. Send your concerns to him at that address. Be sure you include your contact info so he can follow up.
You can also reach Officer at Jimenez at 804-213-4636 if you have any questions about the application process, and how our community can be involved in preventing the issuance of a license.
Let them have their 40s. It will make it so they can’t shoot straight when they go out robbing later. In the end the community will be a much safer place…
I don’t think Jules is being the least bit melodramatic! Those customers you have to avoid crossing the street, can walk just 2 more blocks to the corner of Fairmount to get their chips & soda. And throw the trash down at that end of Mosby St. As #6 Observer said, UH needs to much more stable before any more of these type stores open.
I live on the same block as the Blue Wheeler. Trust me, you don’t want the store selling booze. Its bad enough without it.
I live the next block up from the BW and I agree with Steven. Anyone who wants to make a complaint about a store that already has an ABC permit can use the same web site http://www.abc.virginia.gov/complaint/controller.jsp For the record, it is illegal for a store to sell to someone who is already intoxicated and it is illegal for a person to consume the alcohol beverage they just purchased on or near the premises of the store (that includes the sidewalk). I wish we could outlaw 40s and those little bottles of Rose Hill wine.
lucky dog & steven you make good points, however, once an ABC license is granted, it’s nearly impossible to get it revoked.
The Family Supermarket at Jefferson & 24th would have lost it’s ABC-off license years ago if all the complaints about public consumption, littering, vandalism and criminal activity (both inside and outside the store,) were taken seriously by the ABC.
The same could be said for Ocean Grocery, Blue Wheeler, Clay St Mkt. and Market Place (cnr of Mosby & Fairmount).
These types of store owners simply DO NOT give a rat’s ass about this neighborhood. Their stores look like pig pens: they perpetuate blight and enable criminal activity.
Unfortunately, the way the system is set up, the ONLY way we can prevent another awful situation is to simple stand fast and object to the issuance of a license.
For those of us who do not object to an ABC license, where can we go to voice our support? I simply cannot get on this No ABC off bandwagon. I know a lot of people who frequent these local stores and appreciate a place to get a six pack of beer within walking distance. Although I do not live close to this store, I do not believe the hyped up hysteria regarding ABC off.
@anonymous – feel free to comment; however, the opinions of those who live closest to the store will be the ones given the most weight. There’s also no anonymity for commenters in that process. During the hearing, the names of those for and against will be entered into the record.
I am curious… how would one frame a letter protesting the 5 corner “ABC-Off” license?
If Mr. Daowod (the applicant) doesn’t currently own any other convenience stores in the area (does he? I don’t know) is it fair to assume that his business will become a nasty eyesore that corrupts the morals of nearby residents and attracts crime because it offers alcohol? Just because the Mosby Mini-Mart is a dump, how can you make a straight faced argument to state regulators that the 5 Corners is hell bent on destroying the neighborhood, corrupting the morals of its clients, dumping trash on the streets and attracting criminals? If you are a teetotaler and you don’t think the government should allow alcohol to anyone at anytime – great, I respect your dedication to your beliefs. However, if you like to purchase alcohol at the grocery store, gas station, convenience store, local ABC store, or at your favorite bar or restaurant on what can you possibly base your protest to the 5 corners license other than stereotypes about convenience store owners and Mosby Street area residents? If that’s all you’ve got, shame on you.
@16 “straight faced argument”? No problem. I’ve lived here 21 years, and I’m not naive.
For starters, Mr. Daowood has done zero, nada, ziltch to make his case for a nice, clean, safe convenience store.
When a business owner wants something as controversial as an ABC license in this neighborhood, he/she has no choice but to get out there in public and tell folks what the “vision” is for the business.
Witness the owner of the Roosevelt, who just received her beer/wine on premises license this week. She stared a public information campaign about her business a year before she opened: going to every civic association meeting and soliciting feedback. When she asked for neighborhood support, boy did she get it. Why, because she earned our trust ahead of time.
A little advance PR can go a long way.
Full disclosure: I drink beer, wine and liquor. Have patronized the ABC at 25th & Venable, and all the convience stores mentioned above. Hate em all. Have no reason to expect “5 Corners” to be any different.
deep sigh. anonymous racism is so last millenium . hey are you allowed to complain anonymously too? dont worry kkkers the last time i tried to speak for the business the abc guy told me i was too late to register the affirmative vote. so as usual a bunch of knowitall folk will mind somebody elses business for them. weak sauce indeed . and yeah guys it is racist to say what gutless simp poster #9 said. now reassure each other about what good concerned citizens you are.
My earlier comment was meant to be a tongue in cheek jab at all the folks up in arms about a liquor license. Sorry if the sarcasm got lost on anyone. I actually support a liquor license for this business and any business and feel they have the right to prove themselves worthy of it before we judge them guilty. However, I do think a store has the duty to police itself and if they do prove to incapable of it, their license should be revoked.
That said, I do feel that even if my comment were to be taken 100% seriously, labeling it as racist is a bit of a stretch. I said nothing about all African-Americans being degenerate drunks or all degenerate drunks being African-American. For you to read that into my comments is offensive itself.
There are some bad members of any race and by playing the race card whenever criticism of some members of a race comes up, you are enabling bad behavior. This ultimately hurts those in that community who feel appalled about public drunkeness and lawlessness. By snuffing out any discussions of accountability and how we can address the problem, we allow the problem to continue. How is that helpful?
Keep the race out of it and let’s talk about what we can do to make the community a better place.
I already contacted the agent Capital Gal gave us the email address for in comment 3 to register my support for the license. I got a reply back from Mr. Jiminez to tell me my vote of support is on file and I may show up to testify if I like.
I do not support. And race is not an issue. It is accountability and responsibility of the patrons. I pick up enough beer cans and bottles (along with the trash from convenience stores in my neighborhood) to fill a recycle bin on every collection day.
@barbara branch, you are one of the most respected people in all of Church Hill. Your opinion will be very influential because of your well-known dedication to the best interest of the community. I hope you will share your perspective with Agent Jimenez.
A large sign attached to the west side of the building announces the upcoming sale of (among other things) wine and beer. I didn’t realize an ABC license had been issued. What did I miss?
The VA ABC site says that license #69651 is still pending. (http://www.abc.virginia.gov/licenseeSearch/jsp/controller.jsp?task=retaillicense)
ABC Officer Jimenez is finalizing his report on the application. He’s asked that anyone who objects to the issuance of the ABC license submit a letter expressing their concerns. He’s also asked to get the letter to him no later than tomorrow (Tues, Sept 13, 2011).
The letter can be in the form of an email attachment. You can send it to “Jimenez, Anthony (ABC)”
ABC Agent Anthony Jimenez is wrapping up his report on the ABC application for the Five Corners Mini Mart and has asked that he receive any formal letters of concern/objections to the license. Those letters will be included in his report and the senders will be invited to speak at any upcoming hearings.
These letters can be submitted as email attachments. He needs them no later than tomorrow, Tuesday Sept 12.
Agent Jimenez’s email address is “Jimenez, Anthony (ABC)”
oops, the above deadline is Tuesday September 13, 2011 not 12.
The ABC hearing for 5 Corners Mini Mart is now scheduled for Thursday Nov. 17, 2011 at 9am. Please arrive at the Hermitage Road ABC offices by 8:45am so you can clear security and be seated for the hearing. This case is the first item on the docket.
Please pass the word on to others who are concerned about this granting of an ABC Off license at corner of Venable and Mosby Street. The more folks that show up and speak at this hearing, the better.
Is there an update on this? Any indication on whether the license will be granted or not? I see that it hasn’t been granted yet.