GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A liquor store characterized by a neighboring business owner as a "hub of illicit behavior" wants to expand, and it's giving city planners pause.

Lucky Chana plans to grow his store onto the second floor of the building he owns at 24 S. Division Ave. so he can add more groceries. But the Grand Rapids Planning Commission last week tabled a permit over concerns about increased alcohol sales in the neighborhood.

Some commissioners said they might support the expansion if Chana agrees to stop selling single beer cans and half-pints of liquor.

"My market is the singles," Chana said. "Sixty percent of the alcohol or beer I'm selling is a single.

"I'm sorry. It's not going to happen. They're telling me 'Get out of the business.'"

Chana says he would spend about $150,000 renovating the building so Lucky's Spirits & Fine Wine could occupy the second floor, which is currently vacant. Groceries make up about 30 percent of the store's items now and he wants to increase the selection, he said.



To make room for meat and produce, for example, Chana would move some of the store's alcohol to the second floor.

Public input at a hearing last week was mixed, with some support for additional groceries and strong opposition to additional alcohol.

"The sale of alcohol really does prey upon the people addicted to drugs and alcohol in that area," said Dave Reinert, owner and president of Rockwell Republic, a restaurant across the street that serves booze. Lucky's customers litter the neighborhood with bottles and packaging, pee on the street and pass out from drunkenness, he claims.

"(Lucky's) is almost like a hub of illicit behavior. It's an anchor for it."



RELATED:

* Downtown Development Authority OKs funding for 12-story office tower on South Division Avenue

* Heartside Ministry gets DDA help for plans to take over former Tini Bikini's Bar

A city permit is needed for Lucky's to expand the amount of alcohol it sells. Chana said Grand Rapids city staff are misunderstanding his plan to relocate - not expand - the store's alcohol offerings.

A permit is not needed if Chana expands the store onto the second floor without increasing the amount of alcohol on the shelves, said Suzanne Schulz, the city's director of planning.

"If he does not wish to expand his alcohol sales area and just instead reallocates it between the first and second floors, we would (OK that administratively without a permit)," Schulz said. "It's a no-brainer to give him permission if he's not increasing the amount of alcohol he's selling."

The commission is tentatively scheduled to review the permit application Thursday, April 9.

Matt Vande Bunte covers government for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at mvandebu@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.