Peoria City Council Approves Liquor License For King Zone In East Bluff After Police Opposition

Peoria City Council approved a liquor license for the King Zone convenience store on Tuesday night, despite opposition from the police department and concerns from community activists about crime.

The store is located on Knoxville Avenue near a McDonald's and BP gas station in the East Bluff neighborhood.

The license was narrowly approved in a 6-4 vote, with Peoria Mayor Rita Ali casting a no vote.

Jessie McGowan, a community member of the East Bluff, spoke during the meeting to argue against the approval. He said he has seen the neighborhood through both good and hard times, but now he sees the area getting bad again.

McGowan called the liquor store a bad idea for the neighborhood.

This is not a grocery store, he told council members. It is a liquor store. He compared the situation to a fire that was dying down, then pouring gasoline on it.

He argued the store would not benefit the East Bluff community. He said the addition of liquor anywhere near or in the East Bluff would enhance crime problems.

McGowan also worried about the impact on young men and kids. He said the kids in the area are already doing some crazy things and need guidance. Putting a liquor store in the middle of a volatile neighborhood is not the way to teach them, he said.

Other businesses expressed concerns about littering and loitering.

The convenience store has been working to gain a liquor license since it opened in 2020.

Second District Councilmember Alex Carmona represents the area. He voted in favor of the license during the meeting.

Carmona said the owner of King Zone has shared he is struggling to keep his business open and is willing to comply with the conditions of the license.

This is not a Kroger or Hy-Vee, Carmona told council members. It is a sort of convenience store, but it does have way more actual real food items than any convenience store. That area does not have anything like this, he said.

He noted other stores in the area carry mostly tobacco, vapes, and junk food. Carmona hopes the store grows not in size but in what it carries as far as more grocery items because there is plenty of room to add more merchandise.

Mayor Ali expressed her concern during the meeting. She said it would add a bad precedent.

The Peoria Liquor Commission has previously denied the proposal for a liquor license to King Zone. Mayor Ali is a part of the Liquor Commission.

Peoria Police Department has also recommended denial of the request.

According to the mayor, crime calls have doubled in the East Bluff area since this time last year.

Why do we want to put a liquor store in an area where crime continues to increase, Ali asked during the meeting. She said it does not make sense and she does not understand why there is so much advocacy here.

With the approval, the store would limit its hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 6 a.m. to Midnight on Friday and Saturday.

The store would also limit its in-store alcohol display to five refrigerators, with hard liquor being stored behind the counter.

In addition, the store will prohibit consumption of alcohol on the premises. It will not be allowed to sell single serving beer or wine. It will not be allowed to sell hard liquor under 16 ounces.

King Zone will also have to pay 900 dollars per year and authorize video integration with the City Police Department through the Citys crime center platform.

City officials said the approval came after a back-and-forth discussion among council members and community activists during the Tuesday night meeting.

The Peoria City Council approved the liquor license for the King Zone store in the East Bluff neighborhood. The store is on Knoxville Avenue near a McDonald's and BP gas station.

The decision was 6-4 with Mayor Rita Ali voting no.

Concerns for the license included crime. Those in favor said it was necessary for the business to stay open.