Bowie officials want to allow beer and wine sales at some grocery stores — now illegal in Prince George's County and most of Maryland — to attract a specialty grocery store.
State Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters and several Prince George's County delegates are submitting a bill to the General Assembly on behalf of the Bowie City Council to allow beer and wine licenses for grocery stores in areas north of Route 450.
The city intends to use the added incentive of alcohol sales to lure a new anchor tenant to Bowie Plaza, on Route 197, where space once occupied by a Giant Food supermarket has sat vacant for more than four years.
Giant relocated but held the lease for several years after leaving to prevent a new grocery store from moving in and competing for customers, according to Peters. Starbucks and other businesses have left the shopping center in recent years as foot traffic tailed off.
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