The liquor store at 22nd and Downing, formerly known as Downing Street Liquors, has seriously…read moredeclined under the new ownership.
The store is often not open during its posted hours. The owners randomly open and close whenever they choose, and in the last two weeks I have personally had to call them because delivery trucks were waiting outside for hours while the store was supposed to be open.
Inside, the store is cluttered, disorganized, and in my opinion a safety hazard. They rarely stock the store properly, leaving products in boxes so customers have to dig around to find what they need. The store is rarely clean, organized, or welcoming. They have expanded into chips and other food items, but I have seen serious sanitation concerns, including food items that appeared to have been damaged by mice.
Customer service is poor. Staff have ignored customers at the register while talking on the phone. I have also seen people asleep in the store, which makes the business feel poorly managed and unsafe.
There have also been public arguments and fights involving the owners, both inside the store and outside on the street. Between the disorder, theft concerns, break-ins, arguments, and unsafe conditions, this store has become a danger and burden to the City Park West community.
The former owners treated people with respect. They supported the neighborhood, gave birthday gifts to customers, participated in community programs, and were seen by many of us as family. The new owners do not provide that same care, respect, cleanliness, safety, or community support.
Many people in City Park West have already stopped shopping there. Those who can go to other liquor stores should consider doing so. Unfortunately, some elderly neighbors and people without transportation do not have that option, and this store is taking advantage of its convenient location while giving little or nothing back to the community.
City Park West deserves better. We need businesses that respect the neighborhood, keep clean and safe stores, honor posted hours, treat customers with dignity, and contribute to the community -- not businesses that simply take money out of it.
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