Longtime community staple (and sometimes problem business) Foremost Liquors is one step closer to moving from their longtime home on Argyle. The new location is still under wraps, but it's supposedly "across the street."
The City Council Committee on Licenses and Consumer Protection met yesterday to consider Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth's proposal to lift the longtime package goods liquor moratorium on Argyle to allow the move.
After hearing testimony from longtime owner Jim Hotza about hardships he is experiencing with raised rent, the Committee voted in favor of the proposed modification to the ordinance. This will allow Foremost to make the move to the new location.
We have been following this story since last fall, when a sign went up advertising the Foremost space as "for rent." We were assured by Foremost employees that the business had no intention to close, and it sounds like continued negotiations on rent failed, leading to the current change.
The request to modify the existing ordinance goes in front of the entire City Council for a vote on February 19. With the approval of the BLCP committee, the change is expected to pass the Council.
Interestingly, the current Foremost location was once a movie theater, the Argmore, which operated on Argyle from 1913 until the 1950s. The theater space is still intact and currently serves as a warehouse.
"The Argmore" Courtesy @Eric_Erins on Twitter
No word yet on the future location although readers tipped us off to potential movement on the long vacant 4500 sq. ft space at 1027-1029 W. Argyle over the winter. Of note, this is next door to the Northmere SRO Hotel at 4943 N. Kenmore. Based on the owner's statement that he plans to move "right across the street," it's either that location or Viet Hoa, which we believe has no plans to close.
And finally, although we're not experts on government or city ordinances, it would seem that the removal of the ban on liquor sales on "Argyle from Sheridan to Racine" would apply to all of the local businesses and empty spaces along the way.
We think it would be a good thing if some additional restaurants and bars came to the strip, along with adding liquor sales at some of our favorites, including Milly's Pizza in the Pan, El Rincon de Fabio, Nha Hang Vietnam, Afro Taste, Danang Kitchen, Hai Yen, Cafe Hoang, and Gusto's
What are your thoughts, dear readers?
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