Some major tension is brewing over on tony Piedmont Avenue in Oakland where a former Blockbuster Video location is set to become a BevMo. But the Piedmont Avenue Merchants Association is freaking out, because it’s only going to hurt the small businesses that already sell wine and liquor on the avenue, including Piedmont Grocery, Vino!, and Wine on Piedmont. BevMo argues that their customer data shows they have plenty of customers from Piedmont (the avenue itself is actually in Oakland) who travel to their stores Emeryville, Jack London Square, and Orinda. And while some neighbors have already expressed their distaste for having the chain on their quaint, pedestrian-friendly street, they would be fine with BevMo moving into the Safeway complex nearby. Because really, who doesn’t like five-cent bottles of wine? [Oakland North]
