Class V pharmacy license, but the downtown location was left out.

In the meantime, police, downtown restaurant operators and council members have worked to create a calmer environment. Brodhead said a couple “bad actors” have closed, and Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Steve Chirico praised the remaining bars for managing their customers well.

“The downtown operators that we have today are running better operations than we had several years ago,” Chirico said. “And the rule changes we put in place have had an impact as well.”

Without the ability to sell alcohol during the peak of downtown crime, liquor commissioners said Thursday they can’t blame Walgreens for past problems. Those who voted in favor of lifting the rule said they trust the company to sell alcohol safely and legally.

But the location of the Walgreens at 400 S. Main St. means now might not be the best time to extend it that permission, liquor commission member Scott Wehrli said. The shop is less than a block from five new bars and restaurants under construction as part of the Water Street District and not far from a couple of other new liquor license holders in the downtown.

Tighter drinking rules, a stronger enforcement focus and better business operators for the past two years have combined to produce a safer night scene, Wehrli said, but it’s hard to tell if that will last.

“I really want to make sure the downtown is staying on the straight and narrow,” he said. “We worked very hard for that.”

The city council will make the final call on whether the downtown Walgreens can apply for a liquor license during a future meeting.