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As market waits, grapes go to waste

Can Minor's Market continue to sell beer and wine? A bloated city calendar delays the answer.

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published April 14, 2006

Minor's Market has wine, wine everywhere but not a drop to sell.

That's because the gourmet grocery store's one-year conditional wet-zoning permit expired in February.

Owners John and Jenny Minor returned to the City Council in January to ask for a renewal but couldn't find space on a meeting agenda until Thursday.

So until then, unique beers from small breweries sit in the fridge. A wall of wines from independent vineyards goes untouched. Signs posted throughout the store on Swann Avenue say: "Due to ongoing zoning issues, all beer and wine sales are suspended."

John Minor isn't happy.

"We literally are turning down people every day," he said. "We've lost thousands of dollars by not being able to sell."

Before the deli opened in August 2004, the Minors asked the city for permission to sell wine and beer, but the City Council turned them down. They returned to ask again in January 2005.

The hearing was a controversial one. Neighbors from Parkland Estates and St. John Greek Orthodox Church and Day School on Swann protested alcohol being sold so close to homes and the school. They also feared the possibility of bars spilling onto Swann once a business received wet zoning.

The council finally voted 4-3 to grant the one-year permit to sell, but not serve, beer and wine. Council members Rose Ferlita, John Dingfelder and Shawn Harrison voted against it.

Minor hopes to receive permanent zoning when he goes back to the council. He feels he has proved the integrity of his business and established that the store is not a bar.

Parkland Estates neighbors are meeting to discuss whether they will oppose the application this time around.

If granted the permit, Minor's first step will be to contact his regulars. "We're going to have to rebuild that business," he said.

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 813 226-3354 or azayas@sptimes.com.

[Last modified April 13, 2006, 13:03:15]