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Developer urges Clute to allow package liquor sales to capture lost revenue
Summary
Steve Chandler, a Weitzman developer, told the council Clute’s Kroger-anchored shopping center is roughly 44% leased and asked the city to consider putting package liquor sales before voters so retail tax dollars now leaving the city would be captured locally.
Steve Chandler introduced himself to the council as a Weitzman development owner for the Kroger-anchored shopping center and said the center, built in 2016, is about 44% leased. “We just got notice. SportsClip is not gonna renew,” Chandler said, and added vacancy is primarily a volume and sales issue for prospective tenants. He asked the council to consider allowing package liquor sales in Clute, arguing those sales and associated foot traffic would keep tax dollars in the city.
Council members and staff explained the legal steps to change the city’s status for package sales. City staff said an ordinance change and a voter election would be required, and that the earliest practical ballot opportunity would likely be in November. A staff member summarized the statutory/election constraint: an ordinance change would be required and any authorizing vote would be placed on a uniform election day. Chandler told the council he and his partners are already talking quietly with potential liquor-store operators but that any location would be subject to the city’s final position.
Council members pressed on market and traffic data. Chandler said Kroger remains a strong anchor but that competing nearby retail and lower-than-expected traffic have depressed rents and tenant underwriting thresholds. He agreed to circulate traffic counts and leasing information to staff and the EDC to see whether incentives or cooperative marketing could help increase occupancy. “It’s a volume thing,” Chandler said, describing vacancy as a question of sales volume rather than site quality.
Next steps: staff will accept any materials Chandler can share about traffic and leasing for EDC review and will advise council on timing and requirements if the city wishes to pursue a ballot measure to allow package stores.
