The Powell City Council voted last week to transfer a retail liquor license from Alpine Properties, LLC, to the Pit Stop 12 convenience store, which is located on West Coulter Ave.

Alpine Properties purchased the former location of the Red Stag last year, and owner John Newton had planned to open a renovated bar. However, once he assessed the work involved, Newton decided to forgo the plans for a bar and use the South Bent Street building as the future offices of his business, Alpine Medical.

Mike Bailey, who owns Riverton-based Bailey Enterprises, Inc. and operates the Pit Stop location, had missed out on a different license earlier this year. 

In January, the Pit Stop and Albertsons each sought the city’s final retail license. It became available when its former owner, Powell Clocktower Inn, decided not to renew, as the planned hotel and conference center has not broken ground due to a failure to secure financing. 

The council awarded the license to Albertsons, which is planning to open a grocery store next year in the former Shopko building, also on Coulter Avenue. The council’s reasoning was that Albertsons had the potential to create more jobs.

Mayor John Wetzel and Councilor Steve Lensegrav voted against the motion to award the contested license to Albertsons. Wetzel argued the license should go to the business that is already established in Powell, and Albertsons’ representative had said the company would move forward with its grocery store with or without the license. 

At the January hearing, Bailey said Bailey Enterprises planned to expand the existing store into the neighboring service bays — which are currently not operational — to create a liquor department. It would include a drive-up window, as well as a food service offering. 

The store currently employs about five people, Bailey told the council, and would add as many as 10 more employees with the expansion.

No members of the public stepped forward during Monday’s public hearing on the license transfer, and the council had no questions for Bailey. The council’s vote was unanimous.  

Bailey Enterprises’ other Powell Pit Stop location already has a liquor license. The business also operates Bailey Tire & Auto in Riverton and Lander, two Bailey Oil Fuel Depot locations in Cody and Speedway Cafe in Riverton.