The Baldwin City Council unanimously approved an application for a liquor “superstore” off of 365 next to Hayes Chevrolet.
This would be the city’s first liquor store following the overwhelming passage of a liquor referendum by citizens in the November 2021 elections. The council approved the license and location for the store unanimously at their Monday council meeting.
Annesh Patel of Gainesville applied to open the liquor store, named “365 Superstore.” According to Baldwin Mayor Joe Elam, Patel has another store similar to the plans for this one in Gainesville. Patel’s application has been the only completed application the city has received.
Now that the license to open the store has been approved, Patel will move forward with providing specifications for the project to the city. The store would be located off of 365, on the corner of Charlie Davis and BC Grant Road.
Councilwoman Stephanie Almagono voiced her concerns at the city’s work session last week that the liquor store would be in a part of town that could create problems.
“Using that BP station— it gets a little rough there in the evening,” Almagno said. “There are folks that are living behind that BP, [who] shouldn’t be living behind that BP, just hanging out behind that BP . . . now adding the liquor store to it, I’m fine with having them, but I just hope that we have patrols and things. We’re just adding a different element to the area.”
She did not share any further concerns during Monday night’s vote.
According to the city’s liquor ordinance, the city will allow a total of three liquor stores within city limits. That number is dictated by population, according to the proposed amendments. Two would be allowed for the city regardless of population, with an additional store per 5,000 people. If Baldwin’s population grows an additional 5,000 citizens, another store would be permitted to open.
