Tuscaloosa safety committee backs hemp product sales at K&A Food Mart and on-premises hotel liquor license

The Tuscaloosa Public Safety Committee voted to give favorable recommendations on two retail licensing items and will forward both to the council agenda in two weeks.

The first item was an approval letter request for K&A Food Mart (doing business as Twin Store Package Store) to operate as a specialty retailer of consumable hemp products. Staff provided the store location as 1050 McFarland Boulevard NE, Suite B, and operating hours listed as Sunday 12:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. and Monday–Saturday 9:00 a.m.–midnight. The committee moved, seconded and voted in favor of recommending the approval; the item will appear on the council agenda in two weeks.

The second item involved Pringiv LLC doing business as Spark by Hilton University Tuscaloosa at 4541 Joe Factory Lane (behind the McDonald's off Highway 82). Staff said the applicant seeks retail beer and retail table-wine authority limited to on-premises consumption only; committee members clarified that the state ABC board’s categories are typically "on or off" or "off premises only," and staff confirmed the local request is limited to on-premises service. The committee moved, seconded and approved a favorable recommendation; staff said the council will consider the item in two weeks.

Both recommendations were recorded as favorable committee votes and require formal council action to take effect.