Planned Hollowell QuikTrip’s beer-and-wine exception put on hold

A planned QuikTrip on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway wants an exception to Atlanta’s alcohol-distance rules so it can sell take-home beer and wine. The City Council’s Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee voted 5–0 on Oct. 26 to hold the proposal for additional information and further review.⁠[1]

The proposed gas station and convenience store, QuikTrip No. 1789, would occupy parcels at 3381 and 3373 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW and 3100 Atlanta Industrial Parkway NW. The ordinance cites a certified survey placing the property about 89.4 feet from Greater Leavy Missionary Baptist Church and about 1,300 feet from an existing convenience store.⁠[1]

That is where the distance rules matter. As described in ordinance 26-O-1607, Atlanta requires package stores to be at least 500 feet from churches and 1,500 feet from other package stores, among other buffers. The legislation says there is no administrative variance process for those requirements: relief must come through City Council action.⁠[1]

The ordinance also addresses an adjacent school property. Citing KIPP ATL, it says KIPP Soul Primary School at 1445 Maynard Road NW closed at the end of the 2025–26 school year. It describes the building as no longer used as a school, while Atlanta Public Schools still owns the property and has not classified it as surplus.⁠[1]

According to the ordinance, QuikTrip has agreed to age verification for every beer-and-wine sale, certified alcohol-sales training for employees involved in those sales, and security cameras recording around the clock.⁠[1]

The committee’s hold leaves the distance exemption unresolved; it is not a rejection of the gas station itself. Even if adopted, the exception would not authorize liquor sales or drinking on the premises. Any applicant would still have to meet the other city and state licensing requirements and pay the applicable fees.⁠[1]