A proposed liquor license for specialty food stores could give residents more choices in DeKalb.

At a meeting Tuesday night, the DeKalb liquor commission unanimously approved a recommendation to create a Class D-D license.

If approved by the council, the license would allow for the sale of beer and wine by speciality grocery stores. Hard liquors would not be permitted for sale under the license.

In July, Tom Inboden, owner of Inboden’s Meat Market, 1106 N. First St., requested a license that would allow the sales of higher-end wines and imported beers in his store.

“We’re not looking to go toe-to-toe with these bigger [liquor and grocery] stores,” Inboden said, “We are looking to sell items that are unique to the marketplace.”

Although the license would be designed for imported beer sales, Inboden requested the sale of domestic beers as well.

Louis Schoenburg, owner of American Liquors, 159 W. Lincoln Highway, said it was not a reasonable request.

“When [Inboden] finds out that his fancy imported wines and imported beers don’t sell in this town, he will attack the domestic beer market,” Schoenburg said. “[Inboden’s] No. 1 beer will be everyone’s No. 1 beer, Bud Light. You would just be giving away another liquor license, not a specialty license.”

The commission acknowledged the sale of domestic beers at Inboden’s could affect Class A liquor license holders but said limiting the store to only imported beers was not the answer.

Commission member Gerald Phillips requested adding a recommendation that would not allow refrigeration of alcohol in the store. This might limit the number of people buying alcohol they would normally buy at a Class A store, he said. Schoenburg agreed and the recommendation was added.

After the meeting, Donna Johnson, city clerk and deputy liquor commissioner, commented on the status of Bar One’s liquor license.

“There was going to be a liquor commission hearing, but it was postponed because there were still criminal charges pending,” Johnson said.

Owners of Bar One, 1000 W. Lincoln Highway, were arrested and charged with obstruction of justice Nov. 5 after they allegedly fabricated surveillance footage to avoid being cited for ordinance violations.