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Riverside City Council has opted not to challenge the state's decision to overrule the city's objection to a liquor license transfer application for the Valley Street Market.
The Ohio Division of Liquor Control recently overruled Riverside’s opposition to the change of corporate stock ownership application for Valley Street Market’s liquor permit, citing it did not have enough evidence to deny the transfer.
City Council voted 6-1 Thursday night to not file an appeal with the three-member Ohio Liquor Control Commission. Councilman Mike Smith voted against the motion to not appeal.
Council chose not to challenge, primarily because no additional information would have been presented at the appeal.
“It would be prudent on our part to let this go at this time if we don’t have any new evidence to present,” Deputy Mayor Shirley Reynolds said. “I don’t want the state to look at us as if we’re frivolous when we do our objections.”
In late 2014, the city filed an objection to the application for a change of corporate stock ownership from Mohammad Ali Khan to his son, Shan Khan, because of concerns with Shan Khan’s past. Valley Street Market is located at 3320 Valley St.
Riverside City Manager Bryan Chodkowski said it cost the city about $3,100 to object to the transfer with the Division of Liquor Control. It would have cost another $500 to appeal because information has already been prepared and a similar case would have been presented to the commission.
“We’ve brought it this far,” Smith said. “It’s a nominal fee to appeal to the next level, and it should be heard by more than one person. Let’s throw it out there and see what happens. I don’t think we should have killed it as fast as we did.”
According to the minutes of the May 14 hearing, Riverside Sgt. Jeffrey Trego detailed Shan Khan’s criminal history, which spans from 2003 to 2010 and includes disorderly conduct, possessing drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and domestic violence.
Riverside was notified by the Division of Liquor Control on July 14 that the city “was unable to present sufficient evidence to deny” Valley Street Market of its liquor license transfer request. The city had 30 days to appeal.
Trego testified that the only problems at the market have been an occasional alarm going off and the market receiving bad checks.
Mohammad Ali Khan has declined to comment on this issue. He said in the hearing he would like the business to remain in the family.
Shan Khan testified that he does not use marijuana or drink alcohol because he is now an avid follower of the Muslim faith. His father would like to retire and wants him to take over the business, Shan Khan said during the hearing.
“Even though he made mistakes as a young person, he has changed his way of life,” the minutes state Shan Khan saying. “He is much wiser now and is a changed man since his marriage.”
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