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Sanford Medical Center Liquor License Transfers

At a glance

  • What: Transfer of nine 2026 package liquor licenses from Lewis Drugs Inc. to Sanford Medical Center at the same addresses, handled together with a retail wine license transfer and several Augustana University Association one-day licenses.
  • Status: Approved October 6, 2026, 5-1.
  • Contention: Sara Pankonin voted no; the minutes give no reason. Zak Okuwe was excused from the vote under City Ordinance 30.017.

Details

Items 37 through 49 were listed as unfinished business and voted on as one block.

  • Items 37 to 45: package liquor licenses moving from Lewis Drugs Inc. to Sanford Medical Center at nine existing store locations (East 10th Street, South Phillips Avenue, South Minnesota Avenue, West 12th Street, West 41st Street, East 26th Street, South Louise Avenue, South Ellis Road and East Madison Street).
  • Item 46: retail wine license from David Napolitano to Breadico LLC, 6219 South Western Avenue.
  • Items 47 to 49: one-day liquor licenses for Augustana University Association at the Midco Arena for hockey games from October 9, 2026 through February 27, 2027, a hockey game and block party on October 10 (including Grange Avenue from 33rd Street to Elmen Drive) and an alumni event on October 24.

Vote

Motion to approve Items 37 through 49 by Miranda Basye, seconded by Ryan Spellerberg. Roll call 5 yes (Thomason, Basye, Merkouris, Sigette, Spellerberg), 1 no (Pankonin), Okuwe excused. Passed.

Sources

Log

2026-09-15 - City Council

On the consent agenda (Items 17 to 29, approved 7-0), the Council set October 6, 2026 as the hearing date for the nine Lewis Drugs to Sanford Medical Center package license transfers, the Western Avenue retail wine transfer to Breadico LLC and three Augustana University Association one-day licenses for Midco Arena.

2026-10-06 - City Council

Block of Items 37 to 49 approved 5-1 with Pankonin opposed and Okuwe excused.