A 21-year-old serviceman from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is working to open a liquor store in an empty storefront at the Glenn Square Shopping Center.

Kwamayne Hopkins, who said he was stationed in Alaska nearly a year ago, is pursuing a liquor license for K & M Distributors. The application filed with the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Board lists a Glenn Square address directly across from the new Bass Pro Shops.

According to the ABC Board, the new license became available in the spring and Hopkins is competing for it with another business in Midtown. The competing applications came up for discussion at the July board meeting, but an ABC staff member said neither Hopkins nor the applicant from Fireweed Chevron appeared to make their case and the matter was postponed.

Hopkins, currently on leave in Georgia, also has yet to obtain a municipal conditional use permit. A resolution scheduled for a vote by the Anchorage Assembly Tuesday night states the Glenn Square location has received approvals from the Department of Health & Human Services and building department, but not from the Anchorage Fire Department.

The resolution asks the ABC Board to hold K & M’s liquor license application until the business gets a conditional use permit and fire department approval. Hopkins said he also planned on introducing himself and his business to the Mountain View Community Council at its August meeting.

When, or if, he gets the approvals necessary to open up shop, Hopkins said he wanted his liquor store to give back to the neighborhood through outreach programs and charitable work. It would be the third acohol retailer along Mountain View Drive. Hopkins said it would be his first business.

“I want to do something different,” he said.