Pearland City Council at its Jan. 24 regular meeting passed a resolution in a 4-3 vote to grant a conditional-use permit that allows uses for liquor or package store within the Shadow Creek Market Place planned development district, clearing the way for a Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods store to open at 11023 Shadow Creek Parkway, Pearland.
“I’m a free market guy,” Council Member David Little said. “It’s not our job to pick winners and losers up here. That is for the market to decide.”
The city of Pearland defines a liquor or package store as a retail sales establishment primarily for the retail sales of alcoholic beverages to the public for off-premises consumption that also requires a package store permit to operate from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, according to agenda documents.
The 12,663-square foot building at 11023 Shadow Creek Parkway, Pearland, accounts for both spaces that housed the Fuddruckers and Luby's restaurants, according to agenda documents. Community Impact Newspaper has yet to confirm when both restaurants will officially close.
Despite the passing of the resolution, it was not without some disagreement among some of the council members who voiced concerns about the number of packaged stores on the west side of town. Council Members Alex Kamkar, Woody Owens and Adrian Hernandez voted against the resolution.
City staff found one similar store within the same shopping center, Big Bottle Liquor Store At Shadow Creek Marketplace, and six stores within 3 miles of the subject property, according to agenda documents.
“It’s turning into a mecca for packaged stores,” Owens said.
