ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 17, 1990                   TAG: 9003222315
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STORE CAN'T CONTROL THE TROUBLEMAKERS

I FEEL compelled to voice my opinion regarding your Feb. 16 article concerning a few residents of Old Southwest complaining to the ABC Board about alleged ABC violations of two grocery stores.

I live in this area and must come to the defense of one of the stores, Sunnyside Market on Mountain Avenue. It is a small, clean, family-operated business offering residents a full line from fresh meats to postage stamps. They deliver to the disabled and elderly as needed at no charge.

I shop with Sunnyside and find the owners and staff to be honest, caring and concerned and that they contribute much to the economy of Old Southwest and the city of Roanoke. They turn away customers thought to be intoxicated or too young to purchase alcohol beverages. They do not tolerate disturbances within the store but have no control over what happens on the streets and walks. That is a police problem.

The complaining residents should take a hard look at the real problems and not complain about the store serving the community. They need to meet with the proper authorities to patrol the streets and get those that hang around on the corners, making trouble, drinking and urinating in the streets, off the streets.\ ROBERT R. HICKS SR.\ ROANOKE 


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