Joliet approves liquor license for El Ranchito Supermarket

El Ranchito Supermarket is obtaining a liquor license to the dismay of a small liquor store owner in the same shopping center.

Vijay Patel asked the city council Tuesday to consider the impact on his Mimi’s Liquors when El Ranchito begins selling beer and wine.

“I know I’m going to be hurting big time,” Patel said, noting that most of his sales are beer. “I think it’s going to kill my business.”

The council voted, 8-0, for the license without comment.

The license came to the council with a recommendation for approval from the liquor commission, which is headed by Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. No one voiced opposition to the license at a liquor commission hearing, according to the commission’s report.

El Ranchito at 561 E. Cass St. has been doing business in Joliet for many years.

The store is getting a liquor license for beer and wine sales at a time when it, too, will face increased competition.

The city last month approved a $1 million incentive package to bring El Guero, a Chicago-area chain of Hispanic supermarkets, to the Jackson Street location vacated when Certified Warehouse Foods closed in 2017.

The incentive package was approved over the opposition of another independent grocer, who contended the city was helping bring another competitor into an area saturated with Hispanic grocery stores.

El Guero does not plan to open on Jackson Street until summer 2020. However, Patel said that the prospect of El Guero selling beer and wine, too.

“I know there is another grocery store coming up,” he said. “They probably will want a (liquor) license on Jackson Street.”

Patel said he bought his space about two years ago from the owner of El Ranchito.

The council also approved liquor licenses for Joliet Food & Liquor to open at 1110 Houbolt Road and for the mini-mart inside the Towne Place Suites by Marriott Joliet at 1515 Riverboat Center Drive.