Politics & Government
Vacant Joliet Gas Station Near Airport Faces Liquor License Rejection
Joliet Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Terry D'Arcy wants the City Council to reject the proposed liquor license for Joliet Gas And Food.
JOLIET ? One of the worst spots around Joliet to operate a gas station, the abandoned Citgo property near the Joliet Regional Airport, faces an uphill fight to bring the property back to life another gas station ? this time, with a liquor mart.
At next Tuesday night's Joliet City Council meeting, Mayor Terry D'Arcy, as city liquor commissioner, will recommend the Council deny the application from Hemendra Shah for a Class CG liquor license for Joliet Gas And Food, located at 91 Airport Drive.
"The proposed premise, 91 Airport Drive, is in the vicinity of several hotels," a letter from Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy explained. "The issuance of an additional liquor license at this location will likely have a negative impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
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"The issuance of this type of license will have a negative impact on the city as a whole. Based on the foregoing findings of fact, the Commissioner hereby concludes that there exists just cause to deny the application for the issuance of a liquor license."
In March 2021, Joliet Patch broke the news, informing everyone that the Citgo went out of business and the owners of the gas station and posted a sign in their window letting everyone know that they went out of business because of "robberies."
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In 2021, Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English checked his agency's records and found 79 Joliet police calls for service during the past two years. He said none of the calls indicated any robberies, however, there were reports of burglaries to the Citgo in June and August of 2020. The Citgo station had a license to sell tobacco products, but the business did not sell alcohol.
According to Mayor D'Arcy's correspondence to the Council: Hemendra Shah came forward and applied for the liquor license and a public hearing was held on Oct. 16. The Class CG liquor license authorizes the sale of beer and wine in its original package, not for consumption on the premises.
The proposed premises is zoned for business, according to the mayor's letter.
Related Joliet Patch coverage:
Crime Blamed For Joliet Citgo Station Closure Near Airport
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