Carbondale liquor commission conditionally approves two off‑premises liquor license applications

The Carbondale Local Liquor Control Commission on April 22 conditionally approved two off‑premises primary liquor licenses for incoming operators of existing liquor stores, with both approvals contingent on the applicants turning in the currently issued licenses and providing required paperwork.

Staff described separate applications from Kishabi 2 LLC doing business as ABC Liquor and Kishabi 1 LLC doing business as Warehouse Liquor Mart. According to the staff summary, Downstate Liquors Incorporated is the current owner of ABC Liquor Mart and Carbondale Liquors Incorporated is the current owner of Warehouse Liquor Mart; both businesses are in the process of being sold to the applicants. The staff presentation listed outstanding items that must be provided before licenses may be issued: return of the current license to the clerk's office, the prorated liquor license fee, a Jackson County Health Department permit, a certificate of insurance, and a valid lease or deed for the premises. The staff memo noted that off‑premises primary licenses allow retail sales of sealed, labeled packages for consumption away from the premises and that video gaming is not permitted under this classification.

Commissioner Killman moved to approve the issuance of the off‑premises primary liquor license for Kishabi 2 LLC contingent upon receipt of the outstanding items; Commissioner Hill seconded. The commission took a roll call vote and recorded unanimous affirmative votes (Commissioners Doherty, Hill, Killman, Lowes, Maxwell and Chairperson Harvey). The same motion language and contingency were then moved and seconded for Kishabi 1 LLC; that motion also passed by roll call with all commissioners voting yes.

Staff noted the Carbondale Liquor Code gives the commission discretion to require evidence and to condition approval on changes to applicant plans where necessary to avoid detriment to the general welfare. The staff criminal history check for the applicants did not reveal disqualifying matters, and the application fee had been paid, according to the record.

The commission approved both licenses as conditioned; issuance is subject to receipt of the outstanding documents and the return of the currently issued licenses.

Ending Both approvals were explicit conditional grants: the commission authorized issuance but required outstanding administrative items before final licensing. The staff checklist and return of the prior licenses will determine when the clerk's office can complete issuance.