Walgreens’ liquor request irks Homewood trustee

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Updated: March 18, 2012 8:20AM

Chicago recently welcomed Walgreens’ plans for its flagship store at State and Randolph streets to include a sushi bar, a miniature spa and a 700-bottle wine selection.

Walgreens representatives discovered Homewood is a little tougher sell.

Trustee Tom Kataras became so angry when Walgreens representatives came before the village board Tuesday to request a hard liquor license that he asked how long it would take for the store to come back with a request to sell marijuana.

“First you came in and said you were committed to healthy living. Now you’re getting back in the liquor business,” he said. “What are you going to come in and ask next time? Marijuana?”

The drugstore chain began selling beer and wine last year, reversing a 15-year-old alcohol sales ban policy. The village’s two Walgreens are at Governors Highway and 183rd Street and on 183rd Street just west of Halsted Street.

The board approved Walgreens’ request to sell hard liquor, but not without Kataras voicing his concern about the impact on other small businesses.

“Liquor is a tough business,” he said. “There are small businesses depending on their liquor business. I feel uncomfortable because small businesses are struggling. I have a hard time supporting this. Walgreens used to be a drugstore, but now you’re like a small Wal-Mart.”

Trustee Barbara Dawkins disagreed that Walgreens would eat into the profits of other businesses.

“Walgreens is substantially more expensive than other places in town,” she said. “It’s not a go-to place for liquor. I think they’ve conducted themselves responsibly with beer and wine.”