#Total Wine & More denied in bid to open Queens store

Efforts by a wine and liquor megastore known for its cut-rate prices to open in College Point, Queens, have been thwarted yet again.

On Wednesday, the New York State Liquor Authority denied Total Wine & More’s August 2019 application to open a store in Queens after local competitors and dozens of elected officials — including Assembly members Andrew Hevesi of Forest Hills, Ron Kim of Flushing and David Weprin of Richmond Hills — opposed it on the grounds that it will crush mom-and-pop rivals.

The $3 billion chain out of Bethesda, Md. — owned by the Trone family, including congressman David Trone (D-Maryland) — will likely appeal the SLA’s decision, a representative of the company told The Post.

It opened a store in Westbury, NY, in 2017 and tried to open one in Westchester, but the SLA denied that plan last year. Total Wine & More is appealing that decision as well.

The agency said its members voted unanimously to deny the application in Queens and the decision was cheered by Metro Package Store Association, a trade group representing liquor stores in the Empire State.

“We thank the SLA for recognizing the fact that College Point in Queens is very well served by 350 existing liquor stores in that area and does not need a 30,000-square-foot mega-liquor store,” the trade group said.