A family-owned grocery business specializing in fruits and vegetables is reportedly on the verge of signing a lease to take over the shuttered Osco drug store site at Oakton Street and Asbury Avenue.
The Osco, shortly before it closed in July 2006.
Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, told the Evanston Economic Development Committee last week that the new business will seek a change in city regulations to permit the sale of beer and wine in the store.
She says the city years ago created a liquor license category for stores that size, but that when Osco rebuilt the site and asked for a drive-through, the city balked at having liquor sales on the property.
Ald. Rainey said she favors letting the new grocery operation have a beer and wine license.
Ald. Rainey said she hopes to have more news about the Osco site and plans for rebuilding the McDonalds on Howard Street and reopening the Howard Street Dairy Queen at a ward meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Levy Center, 300 Dodge Ave.