BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A months-long debate over a new liquor license on Plank Road has come to an end, but not everyone agrees with the decision.
RELATED: Neighbors push back against proposed liquor license along Plank Road
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board voted to grant a permanent liquor license to Neighborhood Market & Deli, one of the newest businesses along the corridor.
The vote follows weeks of pushback from some community members and leaders, including Councilman Darryl Hurst, who argued the area is already saturated with businesses selling alcohol.
“This is not the French Quarter of New Orleans,” Hurst said. “This is an economic corridor that we’re trying to revitalize that used to be the mecca of Baton Rouge.”
Opponents of the license said there are already 14 Class B liquor licenses within a one-mile radius of the business, stretching north and south along Plank Road. They argued that adding another could negatively impact property values and slow efforts to revitalize the corridor.
The business was previously granted a temporary license while the board considered whether to make it permanent.
Board member Scott Willfong acknowledged the concerns raised by residents and said the decision was not easy.
However, he said the business met all legal requirements to receive the license and had passed multiple compliance checks.
“They reported today that they’ve been checked twice and passed their compliance checks with no problem,” Willfong said. “So, the board felt it was wise to move forward.”
The store’s owners attended the meeting but declined an interview request after the vote.
Hurst questioned what qualifies as oversaturation in an area already dense with liquor licenses.
“What is considered over-saturation?” he asked.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said it will monitor the business to ensure it remains in compliance with state regulations.
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