Large liquor company considering Arlington Hts.

If liquor retailer Binny’s opens a large store near Arlington Heights and Rand roads, it could devastate local businesses that already hold Arlington Heights liquor licenses, say local store representatives.

As many as half of the 30 package license holders might go out of business, insists Jerry Rosen, executive director of the Beverage Retailers Alliance of Illinois.

Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder confirmed Tuesday that Binny’s is interested in putting a store on the north side of the village.

She responded to statements that the village had recruited Binny’s by saying John Melaniphy, business & development coordinator for the village, had promoted vacant sites at a conference.

Melaniphy said he could not talk about a specific business unless papers are signed, and a spokesman for Binny’s said he could not comment at this time.

The news has stirred up business owners including Connie Karavidas, an owner of Teddy’s Liquors, which has two stores in Arlington Heights, and Mitchell Sklare, president of the company that owns Miska’s Liquors, which works with six franchisees in the village.

Rosen, Karavidas and Sklare have written letters to Mulder and village trustees. Karavidas and Rosen plan to protest if a request for a Binny’s license comes to a hearing, and Sklare warns the village could face a lawsuit.

Karavidas said a large liquor store like Binny’s would hurt her company’s shops in Arlington Heights and Palatine, but she would not go a far as saying they would close.

She does not believe protesting at a hearing will help because the process will have gone too far by then.

Mulder, who as village president is also the liquor commissioner, said she worries about all small businesses in this economy, but believes in letting the free market and competition operate.

The village does not limit other businesses, she said, adding she has not made any agreements with Binny’s.

In 2009, Mulder asked village staff to investigate putting a moratorium on liquor licenses. At that time she was worried about the small stores near each Walgreens because that company was interested in liquor licenses, Mulder said Tuesday.

However, there is a village board policy against issuing licenses to drugstores or convenience stores, said Robin Ward, assistant village attorney.

Mulder’s interest in a possible moratorium happened at about the same time that village officials met with liquor interests to try to reach an understanding over a request from the police department to outlaw sales of small bottles of liquor and single cold cans of beer.

Homeless people who bought the cheaper bottles caused problems including littering, said village officials.

The village board eventually agreed.

The sales restrictions hurt Arlington Heights’ stores, and customers just go to nearby towns, said Rosen.

Rosen contends Arlington Heights’ 30 package liquor licenses are a high number for the 75,000 residents and that the village should either limit the number of licenses or restrict new stores from opening near existing ones.

“There’s only so much business in a market,” said Rosen.

Mulder said a quick check of a few neighboring suburbs of similar size found one with 27 licenses and one with 42.

Rather than limit the number of licenses, Arlington Heights judges each request.