Market Reopening Has Hit a Bottleneck

For 20 years, Jess Rangel operated a market in the heart of old town on Santa Fe Street, just around the corner from the neighborhood where he grew up.

Eighteen months ago, the small market closed temporarily while its proprietor recovered from a health problem. Now Rangel and his wife, Margaret, both 68, want to reopen the little store.

But earlier this month, the City Council denied the couple’s request to renew the market’s license to sell packaged beer and wine, and the Rangels say that without those beverage sales their business would not be profitable.

Under city code, Rangel’s permit expired automatically after his business remained closed for a year. In rejecting the request for a new license, council members said the Placita Santa Fe district already has nine businesses that sell beer and wine.

The Planning Commission had approved the Rangels’ license application in August, but Mayor Carol Downey appealed the decision so the council could review it.

“I have a real problem with off-site sale of liquor at this time,” Downey said last week.

The city also received a letter from a resident requesting that no more liquor licenses be granted in the Santa Fe commercial district.

The Rangels have held a state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control license since 1976 and have maintained a good record, city officials said.

Based on that, Councilman Norman Z. Eckenrode supported giving the Rangels the permit, saying the business has a history of “doing a good job” and not selling alcohol to minors. But he was outvoted.

Jess Rangel said he is frustrated and disappointed. “This is my town, and this isn’t fair,” said Rangel, who for two decades put in 14-hour workdays, seven days a week to keep the business running.

The Rangels want to reopen the market to supplement the Social Security income. But without beer and wine sales, Jess Rangel said, the store cannot succeed.

Rangel said he may consider renting the building but doesn’t want to sell it.

“This is my life right here,” said Rangel as he stood outside his closed storefront. “I want to keep it in the family.”