A downtown development company wants to see Winnipeg's Ellice Avenue liquor store closed or moved. (Google Street View)

A downtown development agency wants to see the liquor store on Ellice Avenue moved out of the area.

CentreVenture is working on improving Winnipeg’s downtown with help from the city and province, and officials from the organization said the area would benefit from moving the store.

The agency wants to see the city’s core transformed into a sports, hospitality and entertainment district (SHED).

The 11-block area encompasses the MTS Centre, the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the Metropolitan Theatre, the Burton Cummings Theatre and the Longboat/Alt Hotel complex under construction on Portage Avenue.

CentreVenture CEO Ross McGowan said part of that plan would ideally see the liquor store on Ellice ousted.

“I think we could move it, for example. Does it really need to be here? Is this the strategic location?” he asked.

“I think there is some lease – the lease is coming up. Maybe it’s time to have a look at it,” he added.

McGowan said the massive SHED project wants to incorporate social consciousness as well as development goals.

According to McGowan, the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission, who owns the store, is open to the idea.

"This is not being resisted by MLCC either. They are saying, 'What can we do to be a good corporate participant in the overall development of the SHED area?'"