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Liquor Store Denied for Former Art Knapp South Store

By 250 News

Thursday, July 15, 2010 02:58 PM

Prince George, B.C. –   A proposal to have a liquor store set up in the former Art Knapp’s store at the junction of the Old Cariboo Highway and Highway 97 has been quashed.
The application came from  Lee Sexsmith, who already owns  a liquor store at the Southway Shell station about 5 kilometers away on highway 97.
He was facing opposition from residents who signed a petition at the Pineview Store which has the designation of being a rural agency meaning it can sell liquor. Sexsmith reminded the Regional District of Fraser Fort George that a rural agency designation means liquor sales are to be “secondary” to other services. He believes the  petition was meant to limit competition.
Traffic, says  Sexsmith would be a far cry from the type of traffic that used to be generated by the Art Knapps operation. He says the  hours of operation would be 9-10 p.m. seven days a week.
One of the Pineview neighbours says she opposes the application “Do we really need to have 2 pubs and three liquor stores in a small community?” The Pineview Store is just 1.8 kilometers away from the proposed new store. She told the Regional District of Fraser Fort George that “for the record the petition was started by concerned citizens.”
“This is not restricting competition, it is managing a controlled substance” says  Director Dan Rogers who notes the petition indicates there is no need or desire expressed by residents  for another liquor outlet in the area. Director Kevin Dunphy says he doesn’t support it because of his concerns the liquor store is on the highway and the deadly possibilities of such a combination.

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Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2010 02:58 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: workinguy on July 15 2010 4:52 PM
"Director Kevin Dunphy says he doesn’t support it because of his concerns the liquor store is on the highway and the deadly possibilities of such a combination."

Strange comment. The Pineview store is on a highway,all three liquor outlets in Hixon are on the exact same highway.By the way have you ever noticed that there are THREE liquor outlets and a Pub in Hixon?As you drive thru Quesnel you can actually go thru a drivethru liquor outlet right off the same highway. In fact I would suggest that many, many liquor outlets all thru North friggin America are on some kind of a highway.
Comment Posted by: verballabel on July 15 2010 7:45 PM
Politics...
Comment Posted by: RUEZ on July 15 2010 8:02 PM
How many liquor stores do we need? Especially one that will be opened only 2km's from the next closest one.
Comment Posted by: chrislivingdowntown on July 15 2010 8:45 PM
So stupid idea anyways.
Comment Posted by: supertech on July 15 2010 8:45 PM
Why would anyone care how many he opens or what highway they are on?? Someone doesn't like Lee Sexsmith but I guess John Majors is a #1 guy? Kevin Dunphy should re-think that stupid comment. Ever ben=en to wun-o-wun on the Alaska Highway? Gee, a bar and no town - - right on the highway.
I'm about to vomit because of stupid statements by dummies.
Comment Posted by: gus on July 15 2010 9:42 PM
Has someone ever suggested that the more liquor stores there are the more liquor sales there will be.

Does anyone limit the number of shoe stores there are? How about grocery stores? If 5 grocery stores wanted to open up right next to each other, would anyone object.

Do we need a shoe control board to control the number of shoe outlets? How about a grocery control board?

Of course not. So why do we need a liquor control board to limit the number of liquor stores?

Come on. Sure surely someone can give me a well sutdied reason.
Comment Posted by: Chester on July 15 2010 10:42 PM
Maybe Lee Sexsmith is only trying to create his own competition instead of somebody else. I haven't heard of very many liquor stores going belly up. So, what's the problem with one more convenience store?

And that is what it is, a convenient location for people who live south of town and want to pick up a 6 pack of beer to have with their pizza and watch a hockey game. Or, we are going over to Fred and Martha's for dinner and need to pick up a bottle of wine to bring.

It's not an illegal substance and you can buy as much as you want when you stop in, so why all the concern about controlling the location of a liquor outlet in a rather remote location. After all, it's not next to an elementary school.
Comment Posted by: cluculzjogger on July 15 2010 10:48 PM
If you think this is bad hear this. The only area retail store at Cluculz Lake has repeatedly applied for a liquor licence. The closest liquor outlets currently are 35 klm west in Vanderhoof and 65 Klm. east in Prince George. The Liquor control board has refused them a permit on the grounds that we do not have a church or school in the area and we do not have 300 year around permanent residents within a 5 Klm area, a totally rediculous rule!! What should a church or school have to do with selling liquor? Also at the rate that rural schools are shutting down, what chance is there of us ever getting an outlet? It would be nice to have a local outlet to go pick up a case of beer or bottle of wine and it would also save on fuel, hiway traffic and totally better for the environment.
Fed up with this government and its policies!
Comment Posted by: acrider54 on July 16 2010 5:44 AM
Maybe Mr Sexsmith is looking for a better location for his existing store.
Comment Posted by: dnakamura on July 16 2010 11:13 AM
As a former Pineview resident, I am glad this application was denied. I agree with Mayor Dan Rogers about the primary issue being management of a controlled substance. Two liquor outlets and two pubs in a small community is plenty. Also I wouldn't want a liquor store to be the first thing visitors see when they enter Prince George through the southern gateway. This isn't about politics, it's about being responsible, ethical and not actively contributing to the over-distribution of alcohol and its potential misuse. Us taxpayers spend piles of money on health care costs, RCMP, ICBC, criminal justice, social services and many layers of human suffering due to alcohol related matters.
Comment Posted by: verballabel on July 16 2010 6:03 PM
A liquor store is quite often the first place I seek after a long road trip to see friends or relatives. If there was a nice store at that location I could see Mr. Sexsmith making a good go there.

Comment Posted by: EXTERMINATE on July 16 2010 9:35 PM
..but doesn't Mr. Sexsmith have one 10ish KM away from that one? And the other Liquor Store (General Store) On the Old Cariboo (Pineview General Store) not to mention the Alternate Pub and The Bonnet. Is there really nothing else he can come up with to turn it into? There is enough alcohol in and around PG, I support the decision to not allow another one so close to others on the Highway. Now to make use of the building for something else...for sure! Although...Cluculz Lake sounds like they need one.