WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
A bill that cleared the Senate by a single vote has small liquor store owners fearing for the future of their businesses.
Liquor stores all across Florida are begging Governor Rick Scott to veto the “Liquor Wall” bill, which finally squeaked by after years of coming up short.
It would allow stores like Publix and Walmart to sell liquor alongside with their groceries.
“Once this bill passes, once our lease is up, Publix will kick us out and put liquor on their shelves,” said Jignesh Patel, who has worked in his father’s liquor store for thirteen years and is now the co-owner of Jigz Liquors located right next to a Publix supermarket.
