Family Dollar applies to sell alcohol at 13 Louisville sites, drawing councilwomen's ire

Eleanor McCrary, Louisville Courier Journal
·3 min read
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Councilwomen Donna Purvis and Tammy Hawkins called on concerned constituents to write letters to the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control voicing their opposition to several of Family Dollar's malt liquor license applications.

Family Dollar has filed applications to sell alcohol at 13 stores located mostly in the city's West and South Ends, according to a list provided by Majority Caucus communications director Kyle Ethridge.

One store that applied for a license, 3901 W. Market St., is in a dry precinct. ABC director Brad Silveria said stores in dry precincts are allowed to apply for the licenses but that he was unable to comment on this particular case because it is an open application.

The list of stores also includes locations that have applied previously, like 1419 W. Jefferson St. in the Russell neighborhood, where residents protested against it in 2018 saying the area was already oversaturated with alcohol.

"We want positive economic development in these neighborhoods," Purvis said Thursday at a press conference. "We will never get it as long as there are liquor stores on every corner."

Yvonne Smith, chief executive officer of OneWest, an economic development nonprofit, also spoke in opposition to the liquor licenses.

"We initially spent three years getting information from the community on what they would like to see happen in the community to propel the community forward and to begin to progress in the area of economic development," Smith said. "One of the things that we heard directly from the community is that they did not want any more liquor stores."

Purvis, Hawkins and Smith asked citizens who oppose the licenses to submit letters of their opposition by Friday. Purvis will accept letters in her government email inbox — donna.purvis@louisvilleky.gov — and will mail them out.

Hawkins encouraged constituents to send the letters directly to 500 Mero Street 2NE33, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, and Smith said people could stop by the OneWest office at 2028 W. Broadway to sign letters of opposition before 11 a.m. Friday.

They would like the applications in by then to ensure they are accepted, Purvis said.

Family Dollars must publicly post they've applied for a license to sell alcohol, which they did on Dec. 6, 2023, said Ethridge. Opponents have 30 days after the public posting to submit letters of protest.

Hawkins and Purvis also expressed concern that some of the Family Dollars in their districts did not put up the notices in viewable places in their stores.

"Their signs were concealed," Purvis said. "So even if you were a patron going in those stores, you did not see the sign giving you the information on how to send in a letter of opposition or even notification that they were applying for a package liquor license."

Family Dollar released a statement in response.

"Family Dollar does not sell liquor, but some of our stores do offer name-brand beer and wine, similar to the brands found at grocery retailers, and often at better prices.

"We are committed to operating responsibly through comprehensive training programs and exams for our associates specific to alcohol sales. As responsible community partners, Family Dollar is committed to a culture of zero tolerance for alcohol sales violations. Of course, we will abide by any decision made by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control."

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The Family Dollar addresses that are requesting the licenses include:

  • 3275 and 3277 Taylor Blvd.

  • 6312 Greenwood Road

  • 3201 Kristin Way

  • 3036 Wilson Ave.

  • 3901 W. Market St.

  • 1419 W. Jefferson St.

  • 3022 Portland Ave.

  • 5312 S. Third St.

  • 790 Eastern Parkway

  • 701 Valley College Drive

  • 5109 Dixie Highway

  • 4335 Bardstown Road

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Family Dollar applies for liquor licenses at 13 Louisville stores