It looks like it’s not last call just yet for a particular Phoenix liquor store. Demolition on Melrose Drive-Thru Liquor Store, located on 7th Ave. and Indian School Rd., has been halted – at least temporarily.

The liquor store’s approaching expiration date caught the eye of a few locals, as Scottsdale-based luxury apartment developers aimed to move forward with their plans of demolition to make room for their newest complex addition. However, the plans were anything but welcome news to fans of the historic landmark.

Community activist Stacy Champion rallied neighbors with a petition to save the liquor store by halting any demolition permits for the structure. Champion’s petition received 1,373 signatures leading to owner P.B. Bell’s withdrawal of its demolition request.

The owner’s original plans included demolishing the Melrose District fixture to make room for a dog park and parking lot for the residents of the apartment complex that developers plan on building behind the liquor store. P.B. Bell has said it will hold on the demolition for now while they consider their options and what is best for the project and neighborhood as a whole.

The liquor store has received an outpour of public support, including two individuals who have offered to buy the building in order to maintain the district’s historic integrity. Neighbors are happy to see the community rallying behind a landmark that possesses the architectural and historic features that makes Melrose District unique.

The Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission also declared the liquor store eligible for city historic status, and members have since voted to begin the process of earning the structure protection. If the liquor store gains this protection, P.B. Bell would have to go through additional steps to receive a demolition permit.