LA HABRA

Hoa Nguyen was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Now the convenience-store owner said he doesn’t know how he’ll make ends meet.

Last week, the City Council denied Nguyen’s request for a permit to sell alcohol for off-site consumption at Sam’s Water & Market. City officials said other stores in the area already provide that service. Nguyen said he might appeal the council’s decision.

Nguyen, who bought the store from Yen Nguyen, a relative, about a year ago, said he has been treated unfairly. The store has been operating with a liquor license for about 23 years, he said, which expired before Yen sold it.