Kamloops Wineries Association Executive Director, Trish Morelli said there has been an incredible public outcry. 

She said that is reflected in a petition asking for council to revisit the issue

“People are looking for a modernized way of buying wine,” Morelli said. “I think they’re just wanting to make their voices heard, as the wineries are, so the petition went into place and within 24 hours we’re in hundreds and hundreds of names already signed up.”

Morelli said the goal is to collect 1,000 signatures before presenting the petition to city council. 

The Director of the Overwaitea Food Group is also holding out hope that council’s decision can be reversed. 

Steve Moriarty said city council’s decision to deny the sale of wine in the Summit Drive location was a disappointment – but he’s staying optimistic.

“We think that there’s got to be a way that, with some kind of reasonable assurance to the city council, we can find a way to maybe get us to a spot where they would be more comfortable with us,” Moriarty said.

Councillors in opposition to the bylaw variance expressed concerns that wine sales at Save-On-Foods would hurt business at nearby liquor stores. 

Moriarty said he respect’s city council’s right to make decisions on behalf of Kamloops residents, but notes there haven’t been issues at other location. 

“All you have to do is look at our existing stores and none of them have put any of the adjacent private liquor stores either out of business or forced them into a precarious situation,” he said. 

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