Our community faces another challenge to our vision of economic diversity and prosperity. We have many liquor stores, beauty shops, dollar stores, and auto-related businesses. Now, a developer wants to put in a liquor store in the closed Walgreens at Covington and Hairston, 5395 Covington Highway, Stone Mountain, Ga. We deserve a diversity of businesses that cater to a wider array of interests and necessities.

There are 22 liquor stores within five miles of this location, shown below.  (Data from ESRI Business Analyst, May 2026)

Click here for a list that names each one, with addresses. 

Studies, such as one by the Georgia State University Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, show that communities with a high density of liquor stores often experience increased crime rates and suffer from lower residential property values.  This is not the vision for our community we aspire to; we want a neighborhood that fosters safety, prosperity, and variety.

This isn’t a fight against existing businesses, but a plea for balance. We welcome many types of new businesses. In the spring, the community responded to a Planning Department survey and overwhelmingly asked for more cafes and restaurants (no fast food), high quality grocery stores, a variety of retail options, entertainment venues, and professional services. We encourage developers to consider the demand for higher-end businesses in our area. They could capture the dollars we spend in Decatur, Avondale Estates, Tucker, and north DeKalb.

The developer needs approval from County officials. Read the Special Land Use Permit application by clicking here.

There are many ways to let elected officials know your opinion.

1.  Sign this petition to say “No” to another liquor store and “Yes” to a more diverse and vibrant future. Together, we can influence the change we want to see.

https://www.change.org/no_more_liquor_stores

2.  Send your comments to the Planning Department, and they will be forwarded to the case manager and Planning Commissioners:   plansustain@dekalbcountyga.gov

It’s also important to let our commissioners know your opinion. Write to:

Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson, District 5, mdjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov

Commissioner LaDena Bolton, District 7, labolton@dekalbcountyga.gov

3. Attend the Protests May 30 and June 6, 3 – 6 pm.

A group called United Neighbors for a Strong Community is organizing the protests. Meet on the public sidewalks of all 4 corners of Hairston/Covington Hwy. 

For more information, contact Dawn Foster at dawfoste90@yahoo.com and John McMillion at mcmillionj2@outlook.com.

4. Attend the public meetings. The District 5 Community Council meeting is June 8, 6:30 pm via Zoom.  The Planning Commission hears the case on Zoom July 7, 6 p.m. Links will be provided closer to the date. The Board of Commissioners  hears it in person July 23, 5:30 pm at 178 Sams Street, Decatur..