Liquor Zone celebrated the grand opening of its 1,500-square Pearland store on July 17 in the Food Town shopping center at 7109 W. Broadway St. "We have a good selection of scotch. I try to make sure I have all the good brands," Liquor Store owner Hiren Patel said. "Then of course, there are special requests for customers that we will order and cater to them." The liquor store opening comes more than eight months after Pearland voters approved a November ballot measure to overturn the city's ban on liquor stores. The ballot measure was approved by 66 percent of voters and allows for the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption only. After learning that the local option election was in place for November, Patel kept a watchful gaze on Pearland on his quest to be the first store to open in the area. Patel filed a permit with the city of Pearland in January to open his liquor store. After his permit was approved in March by both the planning and zoning commission and Pearland City Council, he went through a permitting process with the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission before finally receiving an occupancy permit. "Even when I was doing the buildout, people would come by and say, 'When are you opening? Hurry up!" Patel said. "It's been a very good response." Patel also owns a liquor store in Texas City and is opening a third store in Dickinson. While Liquor Zone may be the first standalone liquor store to open, WB Liquor and Wine set up shop in March inside Costco Wholesale, which is located in Shadow Creek Ranch.