SPRINGFIELD, MA (WSHM) -
Springfield city councilors and some residents are fighting to keep alcohol out of their local convenience store.
The sign outside Plumtree Market in East Forest Park says groceries, soda, milk but now the owners of this convenience store want to add beer and wine to that list.
City councilors and residents that live nearby are trying to fight that request.
"I live in the neighborhood, I've lived here for a majority of my life and this is not conducive for the neighborhood," said Springfield City Council President James Ferrera.
For decades, residents have known the market as a place to get their milk or bread, and they'd like to keep it that way.
"With two liquor stores already in the immediate neighborhood, one within an eighth of a mile and the other about a mile from here, that's more than sufficient," said Rick Caputo of the East Forest Park Civic Association.
But it's not just the proximity of other liquor stores, there's also homes nearby and school bus stops, and these residents don't want their kids to be around a package store.
"School buses drop children off during the day and walking into what may transfer into a package store is not appropriate for our youth," said Frank Ryan of the East Forest Park Civic Association.
Civic association members said that the owners believe that adding alcohol to their shelves could raise their profits by about 25 percent.
CBS 3 went to the store to speak with the owners. They were unavailable.
Residents said it's not the owners they're worried about, it's the fear that with a liquor license, their neighborhood could change.
"We'll fight it, we just don't feel it's right to be here in the middle of our neighborhood," Caputo said.
The East Forest Park Civic Association and residents plan on being at the liquor commission meeting on Thursday at 5:30 to try and fight the license.
CBS 3 left a message with the owners that has gone unreturned.
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