Mexican Grocery Chain to Seek Council Approval

The Mexican supermarket chain Gigante USA, facing resistance from Anaheim officials over plans to open its first Orange County grocery store, will plead its case to the City Council tonight.

Although the vote will deal solely with Gigante’s application for a liquor license, the case has attracted national media attention because of allegations that Anaheim is discriminating against the firm because it caters to Latinos.

Council members must decide whether to overturn the Planning Commission’s vote rejecting Gigante’s liquor license application. The council also could allow Gigante to buy an existing license from an establishment within three-quarters of a mile.