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Imagine the bustling, hip Southeast Belmont business district without Zupan's Market.
Belmont residents don't want to think about it. But it could happen if the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, the Portland City Council and the Portland Police Bureau revoke the store's liquor license.
Zupan's was cited four times for selling alcohol to minors four times from November 1997 to December 1998. Now, the OLCC could take away its liquor license. When Zupan's license expired on July 1, an OLCC administrative-law judge was still pondering arguments from a March 17 hearing as to whether the store's license should be canceled. The store is still selling beer and wine under a license extension, pending a full licensing hearing. The judge is expected to make a recommendation to the liquor commissioners soon, said OLCC sources.
John Zupan, the seven-market outfit's president and CEO, implied that closure of the Belmont store is a possibility if it loses its alcohol-sales license either through cancellation or nonrenewal. The popular location, neighborhood activists said, has played a key part in the area's recent renaissance.
"Obviously, we're not a viable entity without a liquor license, for the type of business we do," Zupan said. "But first of all, I don't believe it's a matter of whether the OLCC would even revoke the license. I just don't believe that. Reasonableness and common sense eventually have to come into play."
While alcohol sales make up about 15 percent of the store's revenue, Zupan said the store would lose other sales because of the convenience factor.
"If you're...