Wal-Mart got the liquor license it wanted from the Grand Forks City Council Monday.
Documents submitted to the city shows the company plans to open a liquor store at its 32nd Avenue South store, joining several other liquor stores on that corridor, including one near the Hugo's grocery store.
Though Wal-Mart is open 24 hours, city law limits store hours to 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and Saturdays and noon Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday.
Council members Terry Bjerke and Tyrone Grandstrand voted "no." Bjerke has long said the city should put a moratorium on new liquor licenses and study how many liquor licenses it should issue.
Council President Hal Gershman, who owns a liquor store on 32nd, abstained, while the remaining members voted "yes."
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Before the vote, City Attorney Howard Swanson counseled against blocking Wal-Mart's application Monday. "You have an application. You have a set of rules. They have met the rules you have established. The implication is you're making another set of rules."
Council member Doug Christensen suggested that it was possible for Wal-Mart to sue the city if that were the case.
Reach Tran at (701) 780-1248; (800) 477-6572, ext. 248; or send e-mail to ttran@gfherald.com .
