No Liquor and Tobacco? at Northwest Food Mart – Tillmann News Information (TNI)
Channel: Tillmann News Information
Date: 2019-02-09

Northwest Food Mart has been in business in Rockford, IL at 513 Toner Avenue for three years. The owner, Said Elkhatib, is concerned that in order to run a successful business and survive financially in the Rockford market, he would need to sell the liquor and tobacco products the community wishes to consume. His two previous requests to obtain a liquor and tobacco license from the city have been denied. 

On December 18, 2017, the Liquor & Tobacco Advisory Board expressed concerns that this use was not a good fit for the location. A MOTION was made by Craig Sockwell to DENY the sale of package liquor and to DENY the sale of tobacco products. The Motion was SECONDED by Maurice Redd and CARRIED by a vote of 6-0. Mr. Elkhatib took the issue to Rockford City Hall on January 2nd 2018 where the Committee recommended sustaining the Liquor and Tobacco Advisory Board’s denial for the Sale of Package Liquor and the Sale of Tobacco Products with a vote of 9 to 1.

This is an exclusive interview with Northwest Food Mart owner Said Elkhatib on July 30th, 2018. In this interview Mr. Elkhatib shares his story of high cost and difficulties of running a business that provides products the community wants to buy in Rockford, IL He will be appearing again before the Liquor & Tobacco Advisory Board on Wednesday, February 20th, 2019.