Neighborhood opposition leads Tuscaloosa council to table Spix Market beer and wine license

The Tuscaloosa City Council on Monday voted to table consideration of an off-premises retail beer and table-wine license for Spix Market until April 21 after neighbors said the store would be incompatible with the downtown historic edge.

Trisha Stone, who identified herself as representing the Original City Association, told the council the proposed convenience store would be “not conducive to the value and character that’s been built in the area” and said comparable stores typically generate late-night traffic, litter and a product mix centered on alcohol and tobacco.

“We respectfully ask that when put to a vote, you consider not just the site, but the broader impact,” Stone said, urging council members to weigh the neighborhood’s recent reinvestment and rising property values. She told the council average home values in parts of the district have increased from about $430,000 to more than $750,000 since 2020.

Neighbor Kelly Fitts, who lives in the Audubon historic district, said the neighborhood framework and historic-preservation standards were created to protect continuity and scale. “A convenience store at this location does not do that,” Fitts said, pointing to limited parking (seven spaces at the site) and potential overflow on Queen City and Bryant streets.

Council members moved and seconded a motion to table the application; the clerk recorded affirmative votes to delay the decision until April 21 so staff can provide additional information and neighbors may prepare further comment.

The hearing record shows the council did not take final action on the license at the meeting. When the item returns, members may consider additional zoning, design or permit details and any comments from city planning or law enforcement reports.