City Council has OK’d a liquor license transfer that will enable a limited liability company to establish a beer distributorship in a storefront in the old Wissinger Shopping Village complex, after nixing the transfer last month in a tie vote.

The vote this time was 6-1, with only Dave Butterbaugh in opposition.

“I talked to the people who applied, and understood the improvements they are going to make,” said Councilwoman Shelley Clinich afterward, explaining why she voted in favor this time, after voting against the transfer last month, along with Butterbaugh and Councilman Ron Beatty. “It gave me clarity, so that I had the correct information.”

He’s happy now, said Drew Patel, a principal in SR Bev LLC, which will be using the license formerly held by Bopin’s Brew in Bellwood at the new location on Walnut Avenue.

“I appreciate these folks coming back in and reapplying,” said Councilman Dave Ellis, who last month voted in favor of the transfer, along with Jesse Ickes and Bruce Kelley, creating the tie in the absence of Mayor Matt Pacifico.

The primary owners of SR Bev have other businesses in Blair County and have operated them responsibly, according to attorney Tom Hooper, speaking to council before it made its decision. Based on those prior operations, the owners are likely to be “good stewards” of the former Bellwood license, Hooper said.

The Liquor Control Board typically enforces its regulations strictly, so the beer distributorship shouldn’t create problems, Kelley said after the vote.

And it makes sense for council to support small businesses like Patel’s, Kelley said.

Butterbaugh led the opposition last month based on requests from neighbors who didn’t want the beer distributorship in the neighborhood.

The LCB didn’t do the neighborhood any favors with how it regulated an establishment that used to be nearby, Butterbaugh said.

“Maybe I’ll be proven wrong this time,” he stated.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.