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The objections mainly were concerns that having a liquor store - or at least a grocery store that also sells liquor - in the neighborhood would increase crime. Hoople specifically cited a 2010 story on studies showing that liquor stores in low-income neighborhoods lead to marked increases in domestic violence calls.

Opponents also were concerned that a business with a liquor license would hurt the potential sale of the vacant Wright Elementary School across the street at 1033 Woodward. The School District of Beloit put the 26,510-square-foot, 75-year-old building up for sale this fall with an asking price of $390,000. The building has been empty since the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

The council voted against the request, 5-2. Councilman Kevin Day cited the fact that the building was next to the former school as a major reason for his no vote. Yusuf Adama was succinct in his reasoning.

"All of the data that we have shows putting a liquor store in a neighborhood, especially one that's impoverished, leads to negative outcomes," Adama said.

That area is a unique mix in that it is close to some of the poorer neighborhoods in Beloit, but also near the Park Avenue area that has some of the most expensive homes in the city. According to the Census Bureau, the median family income of that part of Beloit in 2023 was $54,049. That was below the median family income of $59,975 for the city as a whole and $74,390 for all of Rock County.

Marquise Terrell voted to approve the license along with Nancy Forbeck. Terrell said the owner of KB Patel, Jig Patel of South Beloit, and Parvinder Singh, the business agent for the corporation, have been long-time business owners in Beloit. Patel owns Subway franchises in Beloit, South Beloit and five other Illinois cities. 

"The reputation of the people who are coming in to operate has been pretty solid," Terrell said. "I personally would say I'd like to give them a chance to see how it works out."

Forbeck said she had received five calls against the request yet still voted in favor.

"It would be nice not to have that deserted building there because it's got a lot of bad graffiti on it and it would clean up the neighborhood," Forbeck said.

Homecare Pharmacy closed in September 2023 after a 36-year run in the building.

"I do have to say, having in the past experience with retail, of course everyone would love to just have a grocery store there, but it would be much harder to be successful if you don't have the liquor," Forbeck added.

Indeed, while there are ample studies about liquor stores and whether or not they lead to increased crime in neighborhoods, there also are lots of studies pointing out that grocery stores that also sell beer, wine and other liquors are more profitable than ones that don't. Alcohol has higher profit margins than food and stores that sell alcohol tend to see increases in sales of complementary products such as snacks, cheese and deli meats.

The council rejection caught Patel by surprise. The Alcohol Beverage License Control Committee had recommended approval. Patel said he has a deal in place to buy the property, but it was contingent upon being able to get a liquor license. He said he's not sure if he'll continue to pursue the project.

"With the amount of money it will take to improve the property, it doesn't make sense without a liquor license," Patel said.

He added that his business plan was to have the store be mainly a grocery store with liquor sales as a complimentary offering.

"The liquor would be behind the counter so there would be no theft," Patel said. "We're not going to have aisles of liquor with just a little bit of food." 

Patel said he was going to discuss the project with his attorney and perhaps reach out to the surrounding neighborhoods about his ideas.

"I drive past that building every day on the way to my (Subway) store," Patel said. "I used to stop (at Homecare Pharmacy) on my way home to buy milk. I want to give that neighborhood a store where they can walk to get milk, eggs and deli meat without having to drive to Walmart."