On July 30, dozens of people met in front of several local Family Dollar stores to protest the discount's chains request to sell beer at 22 of its Louisville properties.

Nearly two months later, city officials have finally released their decision on the applications — siding with the protesters who said they don't want any more new liquor outlets in their neighborhoods.

On Sept. 21, Louisville Metro ABC Administrator Robert Kirchdorfer sent letters to each Family Dollar store, denying its application.

Reasons stated for the denials include public sentiment in the area, number of licensed outlets in the area and detrimental health impact.

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The stores that applied for licenses are mostly located within west and south Louisville, where residents generally have more options for buying liquor than they do groceries.

A Family Dollar store at 2421 W. Market St. in the Portland neighborhood, for instance, is located within one mile of 33 already-licensed establishments, according to one of Kirchdorfer's letters. The neighborhood is home to just two traditional grocery stores.

"I believe these businesses target our neighborhoods and exploit our neighborhoods," Metro Councilwoman Jessica Green (D-1), who represents the Parkland and Park DuValle area, said in July. "They want to make a quick dollar and don't typically give back to the communities they're sucking dry."

A Family Dollar representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

In July, spokeswoman Kayleigh Painter said by email that Family Dollar is "simply trying to provide our customers with a convenient option to purchase adult beverages while shopping for their everyday needs."

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The chain now has the option of appealing Kirchdorfer's decision to the state, said Will Ford, a spokesman for city's department of codes and regulations.

In recent years, neighborhoods like Russell, Smoketown and Newburg have pushed back against new businesses that apply for licenses to sell packaged beer, wine and spirits in their neighborhoods.

They've held protests and sent letters of opposition to the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The efforts, for the most part, have worked. Since 2016, the state ABC board has denied licenses to four businesses in those areas and placed restrictions on one other.

The residents say they aren't against new businesses in their communities. They just don't want the problems that can come with too many liquor stores.

National studies have routinely linked a high concentration of liquor stores with higher levels of substance abuse, which can lead to increased violence and a number of health disparities, such as lower life expectancy.

The 2017 Louisville Metro Health Equity Report shows that the average life expectancy for people living in Louisville's west end falls between 69.6 and 71.8 years. The life expectancy rate for all of Louisville is 76.8 years.

"Neighbors are saying enough is enough," Russell resident Jackie Floyd said in July. "We want to change our community. We have to use our voice, our power to speak up and speak out."

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Bailey Loosemore: 502-582-4646; bloosemore@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @bloosemore. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/baileyl.