Council approves liquor‑retail use variance at 1217 East McKinley

The Mishawaka Common Council approved a use variance Monday allowing retail liquor sales and a reduced parking configuration at 1217 East McKinley.

Applicants said they purchased an abandoned building and planned to use roughly the front 8,250 square feet for a liquor retail store while using the rear of the building for storage of inventory. Applicant Bola Singh told the council trucks would deliver once weekly and a small box truck would be used for occasional transfers to other store locations.

Council members asked about truck frequency, whether the storage would serve other stores and how the site would operate; applicants said they stock extra inventory for their own stores and do not sell wholesale to other retailers. No recorded opposition appeared at the hearing and the resolution passed on roll call.

The variance permits retail use in a building previously lawful for furniture retail but not liquor sales; the vote allows the property owner to proceed with the planned conversion subject to any required permitting and inspections.