Youngstown rejects downtown store's request

YOUNGSTOWN

The city’s planning commission rejected a request from the owners of a proposed downtown convenience store to sell beer and wine for carryout.

That decision came after Al and Fidaa Musleh, owners of the proposed store, failed to appear at Tuesday’s planning commission meeting.

Reached by The Vindicator after the meeting, Al Musleh said he and his wife didn’t receive a letter from the city about the meeting.

But Karen Perkins, the city’s zoning analyst, said the planning and zoning office mailed the letter April 8 to the Muslehs’ home.

The store, which would also be a Mediterranean deli, is to be located at 116 W. Federal St., the former location of Plaza Optical. The building has been vacant for about two years.

The Muslehs, who wanted to open the store in mid-May, needed a waiver to sell carryout beer and wine because they are within 500 feet of other regulated- use businesses, said Ray DeCarlo, the city’s zoning specialist.

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