Questions about crime, remodeling plans delay New Kensington vote on Valero liquor license

Pepsi Gamble fears alcohol sales at the Valero gas station in New Kensington could lead to trouble.

Speaking during a public hearing Monday on a liquor license transfer for the store at Seventh Street and Constitution Boulevard, Gamble cited “the amount of not civil society” she sees in the area near her home and from the store’s customers.

With alcohol for sale, those people would be encouraged to sit, congregate and drink there, she said.

Gamble was one of several New Kensington residents who voiced concern and opposition to the convenience store obtaining a liquor license.

Because of that, Mayor Tom Guzzo said he likely would have voted against the transfer during council’s meeting that followed Monday night. Council instead adjourned the hearing until its next meeting, June 3, so details on a proposed remodeling of the store can be presented and reviewed.

Gopinath Enterprise, which operates the station, wants to obtain a liquor license owned by Guy’s Tavern in Avonmore to sell beer and wine, said Mark Kozar, senior counsel with Flaherty & O’Hara, an alcoholic beverage law firm representing the store’s owner.

Kozar said a convenience store without a liquor license is at a competitive disadvantage to other stores, such as Sheetz, which has a location with alcohol sales just down the road from Valero, and Giant Eagle. Valero’s owner is trying to catch up, he said.

If the transfer is ultimately approved, Kozar said the store would be remodeled, in part to include the seating for 30 required by the liquor license. Food offerings also would be increased.

While concerned about alcohol sales at the store, council members expressed interest in improving the outside appearance of the store, which is located at a gateway to the city’s downtown. Exterior improvements would be part of the proposed remodeling.

“Just that alone is encouraging,” Councilman Dante Cicconi said.

Kozar said the store’s owner does not own any other locations and this would be their first venture into alcohol sales. He described the owner as responsible and seeking to make a significant investment in New Kensington.

But Gamble said the trouble she expects at the store would tie up the city’s police, keeping them from responding to calls elsewhere. Kozar countered that Gamble was speculating.

The hearing became testy at one point, with Kozar saying if council were to vote against the transfer, he could appeal and they would spend time in court.

He said council’s questions sounded more like allegations.

The normally affable Guzzo said he did not appreciate Kozar’s attitude and asked him “respectfully” to drop it. After Guzzo said council’s first concern is public safety and figuring out any issues, Kozar agreed.

Police Chief Bob Deringer said after the hearing that the store is in a “high crime” area.

Deringer was not able to immediately cite crime statistics for the store and its area but said he will gather that information from the past three years for the continuation of the hearing in June.

“The last thing we need to do is add alcohol to drugs and violence,” the chief said.