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Will city liquor laws hinder So. Minneapolis Trader Joe's?
Posted by: Eric Roper Updated: December 9, 2011 - 3:24 PM
News emerged yesterday that Trader Joe's is eyeing a spot near Lyn-Lake to open a new grocery store. But will city liquor laws stop them in their tracks?
The grocery chain wants to open a store on 27th and Lyndale, according to council member Meg Tuthill. There's no formal plan on the table, but developers have been talking to the city.
Opening up a new liquor store in South Minneapolis is nearly impossible these days because of city restrictions governing where they can be located. 27th and Lyndale appears to be no exception, based on the city's liquor map.
City regulations requires liquor stores outside of downtown to be surrounded by at least 5 acres of C2 or higher commercial zoning. They must also be at least 2,000 feet apart, as the crow flies, and 300 feet from schools and churches.
The 27th and Lyndale location doesn't appear to be zoned for liquor stores. The city's map (at right), shows it is zoned C1 (pink). Liquor store-appropriate zoning is indicated with hashmarks.
Tuthill and the developer did not immediately return messages. Business licensing manager Grant Wilson said while he hasn't seen any specific application detailing the parcel or entrance location, it does not appear at first glance to be zoned for a liquor store.
Why is this relevant? In 2009, Trader Joe's was blocked from opening a store just up the street on 22nd and Lyndale because of the city's 2,000 foot restriction. They tried to get the Legislature to bypass it, but had no such luck.
It doesn't make it impossible to open up at that site. But it would likely require the Council to jump through some added hoops to rezone the property.
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