Wal-Mart has applied for a license to sell liquor at a Sam's Club that will be joining two of its super stores in the city.
BY HELEN BERGGREN
hberggren@MiamiHerald.com
Opposition is building to a plan by Wal-Mart to open a liquor store at its proposed Sam's Club scheduled for Miami Gardens.
The Sam's Club will be coming on the heels of two Super Wal-Marts that opened within three miles of each other in August.
Wal-Mart is requesting a variance to allow for a liquor store in the members-only club that is being built next to the super store at 17650 NW Second Ave.The City Council is slated to take up the request at a zoning hearing Wednesday.
A Jewish school is located less than 700 yards from the site of the Sam's Club, catering to 700 students from prekindergarten through Rabbinical college.
''I don't think it's a good thing,'' said Rabbi Benzion Korf, executive director and principal of the Lubavitch Educational Center, 17330 NW Seventh Ave.
The school recently broke ground on a playground that will be in view of Sam's Club.
North Dade Community Church, 700 NW 175th St., also will be within close proximity to the proposed package store and the pastor is also objecting to the Wal-Mart request.
''There is a moral value in this city that should not be for sale,'' said Pastor Newton Fairweather. ``Integrity in all communities must be maintained. There is a moral line that must not be crossed.''
Fairweather said he is not against Wal-Mart but ``there has to be some sort of balance.''
``If Miami Gardens allows Wal-Mart to put a liquor store next to a church and school then who's next? Wal-Mart did bring in some jobs but at what price for those jobs? Everything is not for sale.''
Susan P. Motley, the attorney representing Wal-Mart, was contacted by a Miami Herald reporter for a comment on the opposition to the request for a zoning variance that would permit the liquor store to operate.
Motley's office directed questions on the zoning variance request to the company's public affairs office.
''We were not aware that there was an issue,'' said Eric Brewer, senior manager for public affairs, Thursday. ``Certainly, we'll take a look at this. We have time. Our goal is to build stores that reflect the communities in the area.
``Not every Sam's Club has a (package store). It has a separate entrance for customers, internal walls that you have to come into to purchase alcohol.''
City Manager Danny Crew said Thursday Wal-Mart tried to get permission for a package store ''a couple of years ago'' but the City Council voted against it ``because it was open to the general public and had an outside entrance.''
''Sam's is different because it is members-only, it is inside and does not have an outside exit,'' Crew said, ``but this is a council issue.''
© 2006 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
BY HELEN BERGGREN
hberggren@MiamiHerald.com
Opposition is building to a plan by Wal-Mart to open a liquor store at its proposed Sam's Club scheduled for Miami Gardens.
The Sam's Club will be coming on the heels of two Super Wal-Marts that opened within three miles of each other in August.
Wal-Mart is requesting a variance to allow for a liquor store in the members-only club that is being built next to the super store at 17650 NW Second Ave.The City Council is slated to take up the request at a zoning hearing Wednesday.
A Jewish school is located less than 700 yards from the site of the Sam's Club, catering to 700 students from prekindergarten through Rabbinical college.
''I don't think it's a good thing,'' said Rabbi Benzion Korf, executive director and principal of the Lubavitch Educational Center, 17330 NW Seventh Ave.
The school recently broke ground on a playground that will be in view of Sam's Club.
North Dade Community Church, 700 NW 175th St., also will be within close proximity to the proposed package store and the pastor is also objecting to the Wal-Mart request.
''There is a moral value in this city that should not be for sale,'' said Pastor Newton Fairweather. ``Integrity in all communities must be maintained. There is a moral line that must not be crossed.''
Fairweather said he is not against Wal-Mart but ``there has to be some sort of balance.''
``If Miami Gardens allows Wal-Mart to put a liquor store next to a church and school then who's next? Wal-Mart did bring in some jobs but at what price for those jobs? Everything is not for sale.''
Susan P. Motley, the attorney representing Wal-Mart, was contacted by a Miami Herald reporter for a comment on the opposition to the request for a zoning variance that would permit the liquor store to operate.
Motley's office directed questions on the zoning variance request to the company's public affairs office.
''We were not aware that there was an issue,'' said Eric Brewer, senior manager for public affairs, Thursday. ``Certainly, we'll take a look at this. We have time. Our goal is to build stores that reflect the communities in the area.
``Not every Sam's Club has a (package store). It has a separate entrance for customers, internal walls that you have to come into to purchase alcohol.''
City Manager Danny Crew said Thursday Wal-Mart tried to get permission for a package store ''a couple of years ago'' but the City Council voted against it ``because it was open to the general public and had an outside entrance.''
''Sam's is different because it is members-only, it is inside and does not have an outside exit,'' Crew said, ``but this is a council issue.''
© 2006 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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