HOUSTON -- A lawsuit has been filed to shut down a well-known liquor store near downtown Houston, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Spec's, located at 6010 Washington Ave. near Westcott, is 675 feet from Memorial Elementary School.

But the law prohibits sales of alcohol within 1,000 feet of a school.

The Harris County Attorney's Office filed the lawsuit on Friday.

"They are in violation of the law. The law is to protect the children, the school and we're here to enforce the law," said Marc Hill with the Harris County Attorney's Office.

"We have all those documents showing we did everything we needed to do in a legal way to get the license issued," said Hermen Key with Spec's.

Key said it received its permits in February 2008 and the store opened in July 2008.

Sometime in between, the city realized it made a mistake and notified the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission that the permit should be canceled.

"People have been hired. We have provided jobs to the community. The neighborhood likes us," Key said.

"All we need them to do is comply with the law. If it has to be -- shut 'em down, shut them down," Hill said.

Parents and customers are divided.

"People are going there to buy alcohol, so it is kind of close to a school, especially since kids walk home," parent Crystal Montelongo said.

"It seems far enough away from here -- the school, so I don't see a big deal," Spec's customer Dennis Dunn said.

Spec's said no one younger than 21 is allowed inside the store to buy alcohol.

Spec's said the TABC and the city could offer Spec's a variance, giving Spec's the opportunity to remain open.

Spec's could also change its retail mix, saying it will sell more food than alcohol, and remain open. Currently, the store sells about 95 percent alcohol.