Staff report

A decision is expected later this week on trying to open a liquor store at the new Gateway Center in Kannapolis before Christmas.

Officials of the Rowan/Kannapolis Alcoholic Beverage Control Board recently reviewed the latest projected completion date for the store, now Dec. 18.

Terry Osborne, general manager, said Monday a decision will be made following a meeting with the developers and others involved.

The Gateway store will be the third in Kannapolis and the seventh overall for the system.

Officials had hoped to open the store earlier to take advantage of the full holiday season.

At a meeting last week, board member Ken Argo of Kannapolis expressed doubt about whether the building could be completed by Christmas. “It’s a shell … there’s no glass in,” said Argo, who had recently checked on the site.

ABC is renting one of several stores in the Gateway Center at the intersection of N.C. 73 and Kannapolis Parkway.

Osborne said previously that ABC will be ready to open the store as soon as the building is completed. That’s also when the rent starts.

The system has already acquired much of the liquor needed for the new store.

Osborne said legal paperwork will be concluded this week on a $400,000 loan from First Charter, which will pay off nearly $200,000 in existing loans and provide needed cash to open the Gateway store and the fourth Kannapolis store at the Renaissance Center next year.

Osborne said ABC officials have worked out a deal to have security at the Kannapolis stores. They will hire off-duty law enforcement officers.

Contact Citizen staff at news@kannapoliscitizen.com or 704-932-3336.