WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2006
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 11
LAWRENCE
ATE
Joshua Bickel/KANSAN
David Barrett and Ginger Ellenbecker, Lawrence senior, walk into Cork & Barrel Thursday night. The liquor store, at 901 Mississippi St., could close because the owner allegedly has a stake in another liquor store and is only allowed to own one in the state of Kansas.
Cork & Barrel may lose liquor license
BY TOM SLAUGHTER
tslaughter@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Lawrence residents looking to buy alcohol might have to start looking in other directions if a Kansas state Alcohol Beverage Control ruling holds up regarding Cork & Barrel on 9th and Mississippi streets.
Douglas County District Court Judge Stephen Six ruled last week that the Kansas ABC could revoke Cork and Barrel owner Dan Blomgren's liquor license because he had an ownership stake in another Lawrence store; an arrangement deemed illegal by the division. According to the statute, Kansas liquor store owners are not allowed to own more than one liquor store in the state. Married couples are allowed to own two stores as long as there is one store in each spouse's name, respectively.
The ABC also attempted to revoke the license of Jill Blomgren — Dan's wife, and owner of the Cork & Barrel on 23rd and Iowa streets — on the grounds that she was giving herself an advantage over other liquor stores by selling products that weren't alcoholic, among other things.
Sarah Byrne, Assistant Attorney General, said that Six was to decide whether or not the agency overstepped its bounds or made the decision in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner. Six ruled in favor of Mrs. Blomgren.
Byrne expressed the ABC's disapproval of the decision.
"We were disappointed that he reversed the revocation of Jill's store," she said.
Byrne said that Six put himself in the position of "trier effect," meaning he was "assessing the evidence instead of the decision."
Both Mr. Blomgren and the state are in the process of deciding whether or not to appeal the decisions on their respective cases.
Residents living in the area expressed discontent in the idea of the store closing.
"It's a good location for college students," said Katy Toplikar, Lawrence resident. The location is good for tailgating at football games because of its proximity to Memorial Stadium, she said.
KU graduate Rob Scott lived at 937 Alabama St. for two years. He said that the decision is unfortunate because the store is reasonably priced.
LAWRENCE
Construction takes toll on city
BY TOM SLAUGHTER
tslaughter@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Many local business owners will admit that profits tend to decrease as KU students leave town for the summer months. While businesses have become adept at fighting this obstacle, the city of Lawrence has left them to face a new dilemma; construction.
Construction crews began replacing water lines between seventh and ninth streets on the eastern side of Massachusetts Street May 22. According to Chris Stewart, acting director for the Utilities Department, this is the 12th working day out of 35 in which construction on the eastern side will continue. This will leave the western half of the street open to south-bound traffic. When the work is completed, construction will begin on the western half of the street for approximately 35 days, leaving north-bound side available for traffic.
The construction is one component to a larger project designed to replace all of the water lines on Massachusetts Street between 6th and 11th streets. Initiated by the Utilities Department in 2004, the plan was presented to the city commission and approved. It is scheduled to be completed by next year.
Stewart, said that the department was working closely with businesses downtown in order to accommodate them in the best manner possible. He noted there would be some problems.
"It is an inconvenience for everybody, and we've tried to do everything we can," he said.
The construction was necessary because the 100-year-old water lines have ruptured in the past, negatively affecting surrounding businesses.
Jordan Shelton, owner of Vermont Street BBQ, said that it is too early to tell whether or not the construction will have a negative impact on his restaurant. His regular clientele hasn't stopped coming in.
"We're not as student-dependent
as a lot of places are," he said.
Jon Amyx, owner of Downtown Barber, said at first he was worried about his business slowing down, but so far the summer has been "typical". He is concerned, however, about the speed of the operation.
"I think they could have worked a little faster," Amyx said.
Local business owners affected by the construction have voiced their opinions to Rick
Marquez, director of Downtown Lawrence, Inc. The company is a not-for-profit membership organization designed to protect the interests of local businesses. Marquez sought them out to form a consensus on the operation.
He said that opinions have been mixed, but that most owners do not feel as though they are suffering unusual decreases in profits. Downtown Lawrence, Inc., is going to start advertising the necessity of the project, as well as the fact that businesses downtown are still open, he said.
One area the city is risking the potential for profit loss is in parking revenue. While construction is being performed, only half of the parking spaces between seventh and ninth streets will be available.
Last summer, while a similar project was performed on the 600 block of Massachusetts, the city generated almost $130,000 in parking revenue — close to a third of the $382,000 parking revenue earned for the year. So far for 2006, the city has earned $162,368.35 from parking.
Joshua Bickel/KANSAN
Construction work continues on Massachusetts Street between Seventh and Ninth Streets to repair an aging waterline. Work began in late-May and is expected to be completed by mid-September.