City council is getting behind Councillor Nella Dekker’s proposal to send a letter to the liquor board to convince them to return to Thorold.
As ThoroldToday reported, for the past two years Councillor Dekker has been working with MPP Jeff Burch to try and bring an LCBO back to town.
The proposal was received enthusiastically during Tuesday’s city council meeting, but not every councillor is convinced they’ll be able to sway the opinion of the liquor board.
“Some years ago we put out a request when we lost our liquor store,” said Councillor Jim Handley. “The reasoning was that when you went to St. Catharines to buy liquor they were asking for your postal code and they used that as a justification [not to bring the LCBO to Thorold.] I got no problem going at it again but just know we got a battle.”
Councillor Henry D’Angela suggested that the city adopt a two-pronged approach when trying to get the LCBO back.
“Given the fact that there is mileage distances between liquor stores the likelihood is not good that it is going to be in downtown Thorold,” he said. “Rolling Meadows would probably be a more secure spot where the LCBO might have some interest. One at Foodland is a good example of how a satellite or a smaller version can benefit the citizens of Thorold.”
According to Councillor Dekker, the Foodland in Pine St. Plaza successfully obtained a liquor sales license a few years ago but it was revoked when the pandemic happened.
The city’s Manager of Economic Development Ken Scholtens plans to work with the supermarket to try and get the license reinstated.
Councillors unanimously voted to have Mayor Terry Ugulini draft up a letter to the liquor board and explain the opportunities available in Thorold.
