News Summary
Residents along North Main Street in Columbia are opposing the sale of alcohol at two nearby convenience stores, notably Valero and City Food Mart, due to concerns over criminal activities and public safety. With reports of loitering and illegal behaviors associated with these establishments, local authorities, including the Sheriff’s Department, are backing the community’s protests. The situation has prompted discussions on potential reforms to manage safety effectively while awaiting a judicial decision on alcohol licensing.
Columbia – Residents along the upper stretch of North Main Street are actively challenging the sale of alcohol at two convenience stores, citing concerns that these establishments serve as magnets for criminal activity. The stores in question are the Valero gas station, formerly known as Obama Mart, and City Food Mart, both located within half a mile of each other.
Witness accounts indicate that patrons frequently loiter around these stores, engaging in behaviors such as drinking from brown paper bags and participating in activities reminiscent of drug dealing, gambling, and potential prostitution. This has led to heightened concern among local residents about their safety and the overall decline of their neighborhood.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has joined the residents in their protest against the sale of alcohol at these convenience stores due to claims of public drinking and illegal operations that allegedly include the sale of items such as mattresses and tires. Community members have expressed feeling targeted by these criminal behaviors, which they associate with broader societal issues including homelessness and addiction.
Local leaders have noted that the core issue extends beyond the sale of alcohol; it encompasses the negative behaviors that surround it. The Columbia Police Department has also observed a direct correlation between the high volume of police calls for service and the sale of single-serve alcohol, stating that many customers opt to buy single beers at low prices, which contributes to the loitering problem.
Despite the tensions, City Food Mart has not been officially labeled as a “problem” location by law enforcement; however, residents maintain that its presence negatively impacts the community. Both convenience stores are known to sell single-serve beer, raising ongoing concerns regarding related crime and loitering in the area.
The Valero store, in particular, has reported a staggering nearly 400 calls for police service since January 2024, emphasizing the persistent challenges with crime that affect its surrounding environment. Additionally, community members have begun organizing efforts to monitor convenience store permits, having previously succeeded in challenging similar permits in their area.
In response to these challenges, attorney Larry Marchant, representing the Valero store’s new owners, has indicated that they are open to limiting sales of single-serve beer. Nonetheless, he has pointed out that such limitations could disadvantage the store competitively in the market.
On the other hand, the legal team for City Food Mart argues that the store’s owners are present on-site and actively engaged with the community, countering accusations of negligence in managing the establishment. Furthermore, attorney John Alfin has indicated that City Food Mart has implemented various operational changes aimed at controlling loitering behavior around the store.
Residents are advocating for broader reforms designed to enhance the role of convenience stores as positive community partners. Proposed measures include the potential employment of private security to patrol these areas and mitigate crime.
The situation is currently awaiting a judicial decision regarding the alcohol license petitions associated with both convenience stores. A timeline for a final ruling is expected to extend over the forthcoming months, underscoring the ongoing nature of this community dispute and the critical importance of addressing neighborhood safety concerns.
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Additional Resources
- The State: Columbia Residents Challenge Alcohol Sales
- Wikipedia: Alcohol Policy
- The State: Local News Article
- Google Search: Community Safety Concerns
- Charlotte Observer: Local Business News
- Google Scholar: Loitering and Crime
- Muskoka Region: Alcohol Sales in Convenience Stores
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Alcohol Retail
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
