musicman Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Spec's is suing the city http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6516636.html City Attorney Arturo Michel said the permit Spec’s received was based on the exception given to restaurants that sell alcohol. “This store was not built because of a city mistake,” Michel said. “Why they thought they could operate as a package store with that permit, I cannot say.” So can he say why they would give Spec's a permit they normally give to restaurants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Judah Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 So can he say why they would give Spec's a permit they normally give to restaurants? More importantly, why would they apply for one? My guess is they greased the wheel a little bit, which evidently worked until it didn't. Hopefully the priorities of Memorial whatever Elementary students win out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Typical City bureaucracy. I hope Specs prevails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggity Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I just heard a rumor that the city shut Spec's down today.Can anyone confirm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 A friend of mine confirmed today that its closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Harris County DA's misspelled and poorly-worded press release.Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan announced today that the Spec'sLiquors and Spec's Wines, Beers, and Finer Foods stores at 6010Washington Avenue, Houston, have closed. The company agreed to acancelation of its permits for this location this morning prior to anAlcoholic Beverage Commission hearing to consider revoking Spec'slicense and permits.The County Attorney filed a suit againstSpec's in March asking that the licenses and permits issued by theTexas Alcoholic Beverage for these stores be cancelled because thestores are 675 feet of Memorial Elementary School. The City of Houstonbans the sale of alcohol within 1,000 feet of a public school. Thatsuit is pending.http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/09/specs_on_washington_avenue_clo.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 This is retarded. Move the damn school, scotch must be sold!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goavs4 Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 We found out they were shut down after attempting a quick run there last night. We are really upset since it's within easy walking distance of our house and has a lot to offer in terms of groceries as well and so is a perfect stop to pick up anything we've run out of when making meals etc...Anyway, they had a sign on the door to have people call the city council reps for the area to voice displeasure with the city in this situation:Council Member Edward Gonzalez City Hall Annex 900 Bagby, 1st Floor Houston, TX 77002Phone: 832.393.3003FAX: 713.247.1252districth@cityofhouston.netCouncil Member Pam Holm City Hall Annex 900 Bagby, 1st Floor Houston, TX 77002 Phone: 832.393.3007 FAX: 713.247.3250 districtg@cityofhouston.netWe will be calling them first thing Monday morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 We found out they were shut down after attempting a quick run there last night. We are really upset since it's within easy walking distance of our house and has a lot to offer in terms of groceries as well and so is a perfect stop to pick up anything we've run out of when making meals etc...Anyway, they had a sign on the door to have people call the city council reps for the area to voice displeasure with the city in this situation:i don't know. i mean, i think it's crappy that the city issued permits in the 1st place and Spec's went through the expense to build out a (great) store BUT on the other hand, there are reasons as to why liquor can't be sold with in a certain distance of a school. if i was asked, i would say the city should give them some kind of serious compensation for their financial lost but the store should remain closed. after all, if they can stay open in this location, what is the 1000 foot rule for? it is rendered moot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 i don't know. i mean, i think it's crappy that the city issued permits in the 1st place and Spec's went through the expense to build out a (great) store BUT on the other hand, there are reasons as to why liquor can't be sold with in a certain distance of a school. if i was asked, i would say the city should give them some kind of serious compensation for their financial lost but the store should remain closed. after all, if they can stay open in this location, what is the 1000 foot rule for? it is rendered moot.For me its a demographics thing. Spec's is not your typical liquor store and doesn't generally attract the paper bag crowd you might be worried about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I assume they already looked at moving the door to be farther away? What about making the entrance in the middle or the WoW circle, and have a tunnel underground to the store? Perfect, make it happen. Deliveries might be tricky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I can't believe they're worried about ELEMENTARY schoolkids buying booze at SPECS! I'm 28 and they look at ME funny when I walk in!If it were a high school, I could see a bit of concern. Damn those drunk 9 year olds had to mess it up for everyone! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I assume they already looked at moving the door to be farther away? What about making the entrance in the middle or the WoW circle, and have a tunnel underground to the store? Perfect, make it happen. Deliveries might be tricky...Must be at least 1000 ft and it was only 650 ft away so moving the door was not going to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtticaFlinch Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Must be at least 1000 ft and it was only 650 ft away so moving the door was not going to help.Maybe instead of farther away along the ground, they could go up. Hike up a set of stairs to the entrance 1000 feet in the air and then ride an elevator down into the store. Simple if you ask me. I am the answer man. I'll provide the easiest out-of-the-box solutions for any problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 For me its a demographics thing. Spec's is not your typical liquor store and doesn't generally attract the paper bag crowd you might be worried about.really? because there are quite a few homeless ans n'erdowells that hang out around the mecca, i.e. downtown specs. and, like i said, if one liquor store can be <700 ft from a schol, then they all can be.I can't believe they're worried about ELEMENTARY schoolkids buying booze at SPECS! I'm 28 and they look at ME funny when I walk in!If it were a high school, I could see a bit of concern. Damn those drunk 9 year olds had to mess it up for everyone! LOLmy 2 year old is coniving enough to get his hands on a good fake id. i swear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 really? because there are quite a few homeless ans n'erdowells that hang out around the mecca, i.e. downtown specs. and, like i said, if one liquor store can be <700 ft from a schol, then they all can be.I do not see this near the Midtown Spec's, and I go there pretty often. The Greyhound station, on the other hand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Maybe instead of farther away along the ground, they could go up. Hike up a set of stairs to the entrance 1000 feet in the air and then ride an elevator down into the store. Simple if you ask me. I am the answer man. I'll provide the easiest out-of-the-box solutions for any problem. So would they need to just go up the extra feet to make a total of 1000 or would the actual hypotenuse of the triangle need to be 1000 feet. Could make a big difference in the construction costs. Actually, I think they should move this store to the west side of town (closer to me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I do not see this near the Midtown Spec's, and I go there pretty often. The Greyhound station, on the other hand...i actually wonder if one guy might have died- black guy with dreds. he was thin and i watched him get puffier and puffier over the years. that's a sign of cirrhosis. he used to sleep on the bench right across the street....and demographics arent a good indicator as all kinds of people can be found drinking and being stupid at all times of day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Harris County DA's misspelled and poorly-worded press release.http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/09/specs_on_washington_avenue_clo.phpThat would be the Harris County Attorney, not the DA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I assume they already looked at moving the door to be farther away? What about making the entrance in the middle or the WoW circle, and have a tunnel underground to the store? Perfect, make it happen. Deliveries might be tricky...The 1,000 foot from school requirement is a lot linr to lot line measurement, so door location is immaterial. Door placement is used to skirt the 300 foot rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 That would be the Harris County Attorney, not the DA.K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtticaFlinch Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 So would they need to just go up the extra feet to make a total of 1000 or would the actual hypotenuse of the triangle need to be 1000 feet. Could make a big difference in the construction costs. Excellent point. In the case for the hypotenuse, the stairs would only need to be 760 feet high. (Though my math is probably wrong.) That's only two and a half football fields up as opposed to the earlier suggested three and a third. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Excellent point. In the case for the hypotenuse, the stairs would only need to be 760 feet high. (Though my math is probably wrong.) That's only two and a half football fields up as opposed to the earlier suggested three and a third. Unfortunately, it looks like Red has cut the legs out from under the wild entryway modification idea. Guess they'll just have to move it to the west side of town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanith27 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Got a couple of responses from some people on this:One from the owner of Specs saying that they are in a long term lease on the location so they won't be 'moving' anywhere and he encourages anyone unhappy with the situation to make some noise with the city so a waiver can be granted.From Annise Parker, she said the permit was granted based on the belief they would be selling more food onsite than alcohol. When that wasn't the case, the permit was revoked. It was never incorrectly issued in the first place according to her, but issued on a business model that was not adhered to.So, I am curious: How prevalent are waivers issued to businesses in cases like this? Does the city really investigate alcohol sales like this as a percentage of total sales? Given that we have sex offenders living across the street from schools in the Heights and no one does anything about it, I can't imagine the city having resources to Big Brother a place like Specs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 That comment from Annise Parker is the first I've heard of anything like that. I'd like to see the paperwork that supposedly stated that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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