By Sara Beth Williams–
A local Asian grocery store has submitted for review a Letter of Public Convenience and Necessity to allow for the off-sale of beer, wine, and spirits at its existing location, according to the city.
Rangoon Market, which is requesting an off-sale Type 21 alcohol license, opened in March 2023 and sells an assortment of Asian and American foods and goods. In an interview with The Sentinel in 2023, the owner of the family-run market said they received advice from other Burmese friends and family who own businesses both in and out of state. Rangoon Market is located on the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Old Auburn Road. The owner also expressed a desire to expand the grocery shop to additional locations in the future.
A Letter of Public Convenience and Necessity, referred to as a PCN, is typically required when a business applies for certain types of alcohol licenses in areas considered “high crime” or where the number of existing licenses exceeds a state-determined threshold. According to the market’s application, four establishments in the specified census tract currently already sell alcoholic beverages, while only two are permitted. Additionally, the total number of reported criminal offenses in the area exceeds the target average for the specified district.
Rangoon Market is located at 7601 Sunrise Blvd., in a space formerly occupied by the Citrus Mart convenience store, which shuttered during the pandemic. Along with the market, the shopping plaza includes Master Donuts, a coffee drive-thru, a barber shop, SAFE Credit Union, and a graphics printing shop. The Family Outpost, a family-owned thrift store, is the most recent addition, reclaiming the space formerly occupied by Dollar N More.
A date for public hearing has yet to be determined, the city said.
Rangoon Market is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
