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WARREN -- City officials negotiated solutions with two local businesses to help them retain their liquor licenses after 4th Ward Councilman James Shaffer presented an objection to their renewals at last week's city council meeting.
Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa and Shaffer sat down with the owners of Big Apple Supermarket and Pit Stop to discuss how they can work together to "remain business friendly" and keep the area near the stores safe. Shaffer initially said "the city is like a big family, and all kinds of problems happen in families all the time," at last week's meeting.
Shaffer explained he is not looking to shut down people's businesses, but the nuisances that arise could be related.
"We can work together and solve our problems," Shaffer said.
During a meeting held in private at Warren City Hall on Monday, he maintained his position on the matter.
Big Apple Supermarket and Pit Stop, at 1650 and 1708 Youngstown Warrren Road SE, potentially could lose their liquor licenses if Warren City Council votes as a majority to send the request to the Ohio Department of Liquor Control. The vote is scheduled for July 26.
The most important thing that officials noted was achieving an "ongoing dialogue." They said that continuing to address possible resolutions, and taking an evaluative approach in the days and months to come, can be a permanent solution.
"Let us all come to the resolution that there does exist a problem," Cantalamessa said. "Whatever the problem is, let's define it and attempt to achieve resolution, and we had a very spirited dialogue at times. We had a very frank discussion but I think, more than anything else, what we achieved was a willingness on the part of the city, and business owners, to work toward what can be a mutually agreeable resolution to these issues."
The proposed solutions, according to Cantalamessa, included improved lighting, increased camera and police presence, changing hours of operations, and addressing products being sold.
"We tried to make it as comprehensive in approach as possible," he said. "OK look, we have this problem, let's look at all the possible contributing factors to this problem, and see if we can start checking boxes to knock them off one at a time. The more of those boxes we check off, hopefully the activity that is causing those problems stop."
Cantalamessa also said that closing the businesses is an "absolute last resort." He continued in saying that the businesses are always worthy of an opportunity to work toward abating what many in the neighborhood see as problematic.
Shaffer is unsure of how the vote will turn out, but he said Monday's meeting went excellent and "we will see how they do with their promises and how things go with the things we have talked about today."
The next meeting's scheduling gives the businesses time to make adjustments with positive impacts on community safety. "By the time we go to the state, it will be October or November, so we'll have a good idea of how things are going," Shaffer said.
"Most liquor license renewals are within the months of August, September and October," Cantalamessa said. "Theirs is coming up. And from a timing standpoint, cities who are faced with this position, to object to a renewal or not, have to do so within at least 30 days of the renewal date. So that's why we are where we are."
Shaffer said both sides were willing to compromise and that the businesses "really want to do their best to try and accomplish what the city wants them to do."
Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert mentioned there have been "over 300" calls made in relation to the businesses, but he credited them because a large amount of the calls came from the businesses themselves.
"The fact that you weren't hiding anything is a big deal, and we do respect that," Colbert said he explained to the owners. "But at the end of the day, it's just like anything else. I tell my kid to clean his room and he does, but when I come in, I say it 'isn't clean enough.' There's no question that they have done some positive things, but regardless to whoever's best intentions, it simply just has not been enough."
Ammar Zayed, Pit Stop store manager and brother of owner Ahmmad Zayes, spoke briefly about the situation last week. "We try to keep the store as clean as possible," Zayed said. "We even put a camera up to help keep the city clean. We sell diapers and groceries, and our biggest profit does not come from alcohol." The store owner paid for the camera himself after the city asked him to purchase one, according to Colbert. The camera, estimated at $30,000 by Zayed, is one of many surrounding the stores.
Both business owners declined to speak about the situation.