Davenport convenience store owner told to clean up neighborhood or lose liquor license

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By Tory Brecht | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:45 PM CDT | () comments

Running a convenience store in a central Davenport neighborhood plagued with crime forced owner Matar Abdalhadi into a Catch-22.

On the one hand, Abdalhadi has been asked by police to call and report suspicious activity, loitering, fighting and other illegal behavior, which he has done.

But at Wednesday night’s Davenport City Council meeting, the high volume of police calls for service at his establishment almost cost him his license to sell beer and wine.

“They told us to call more,” he said from behind the counter of the 1st Stop store at 1139 Brady St., hours before the council meeting. “I put $8,000 in security cameras in. We are working and working and working to make it better.”

Several aldermen remain skeptical that serious efforts are being made, but seven out of the 10 voted to table a resolution to deny Abdalhadi’s license. Instead, the motion was tabled for one council cycle, during which he will be asked to meet with staff and police on strategies for reducing criminal behavior in the vicinity of his store.

“I understand the difficulty in owning and operating a business in that area,” said 5th Ward Alderman Bill Lynn. “But every year, I field complaints from the neighborhood about trash, crime and other problems. I want to be sure we’re getting as much cooperation from the business owner as we can.”

Police Chief Frank Donchez said officers have responded to the 1100 block of Brady Street 168 times so far in 2008. Among those calls were two assaults, 11 thefts, 19 juvenile complaints and 65 requests for extra patrols.

Alderman Bill Boom, 3rd Ward, said those numbers are troubling.

“There is a lot of activity going on here,” he said. “You are responsible not only for conditions inside your store, but on your property. That business tends to be a focal point for a lot of negative activity going on in that neighborhood.”

Abdalhadi’s attorney, Garth Carlson, said it’s unfair to hold his client responsible for the conduct of the entire neighborhood. He noted that Central High School is one and a half blocks away, and the source for many of the juvenile calls. In addition, he pointed out that his client’s video surveillance system helped lead to the capture of a suspect who robbed a nearby bank.

He said Abdalhadi has complied with every request from staff and police — including clearing out window displays and adding a security system — and will continue to do so.

Torrie Mauerman and Aaron Artstrom, two Palmer College students who live near the convenience store, said as the weather warms up, the bad behavior around the store picks up in intensity.

“It’s more of an annoyance than anything,” said Mauerman. “A lot of squealing tires, loud music and things like that.”

Michele Hancock, director of Trinity Episcopal Church’s Positive Parenting child care program, which sits across the street from 1st Stop, said the store’s clientele is fairly benign while she’s at work.

“During the day, it hasn’t been a problem, but I’ve heard it’s worse at night,” she said. “I think pulling the license would decrease the traffic. Personally, I think it would be a benefit to the entire neighborhood.”

Abdalhadi said he’s only owned the business a little more than a year and believes he has made progress reducing loitering and other problems.

A picture of Vincelina Howard, who was shot in an alley about a block away from the store, is posted above the counter as a makeshift memorial.

“The people who shot her, they were from Rock Island, they aren’t my customers,” he said. “We’re doing what we can.”

Tory Brecht can be contacted at (563) 383-2329 or tbrecht@qctimes.com.