Waitress Lara St. Claire pours a tall frosty one for a customer at the Village Bar and Grill in Rock Spring while patrons watch college football. “It’s a popular place because there isn’t another one like it around here,” St. Claire said. (Messenger photo/Matt Ledger)
“We want the people to have a voice since it has been an issue before,” mayor Neal Florence said.
“This issue is far too big for just five people to decide,” said council member Andy Arnold, who believes that the people, and not the council, should make the final decision on liquor in LaFayette. His challenger, Beacher Garmany, echoes the sentiment, saying he is “in favor of letting the citizens decide, instead of the city council.”
LaFayette already contends with the ramifications of alcohol sales.
The LaFayette Golf Course recently adopted selling beer to golfers, while the private membership of the Elks Lodge have enjoyed a full bar just outside city limits for many years.
“We already have it in the county — why not the city?” asked Keith Talley, who is running for the Ward 2 council seat.
“If a business is to keep its doors open, it must be given certain incentives to do so. Without our business dollars and support, no one can survive,” said municipal judge candidate Ken Maples. “Before you travel to Fort Oglethorpe or Dalton, shop our local businesses first. Chances are you'll find the same things here at home and save a pocket full of gas money as well.”
An influx of chain restaurants arrived quickly four years ago when Fort Oglethorpe passed a similar measure, bringing in establishments that average 5-10% alcohol sales, but achieve tens of thousands of dollars in business weekly, according to one of the restaurant managers.
LaFayette residents who frequent restaurants that serve alcohol must go outside of the city and even the county, frequently to Battlefield Parkway, which has a handful of restaurants that do.
“ If someone wants to drink, they go to Dalton or Chattanooga, then drive back to LaFayette all boozed up,” said municipal judge Barry Hollis. “If people think that drinking and driving is not going on in this town now, they are kidding themselves.”
Hollis does not expect an increase in DUIs if the measure passes, but does question whether “kids on the golf course [are] going to take it up,” referring to the mixture of high-school-age players and adults who regularly use the course.
The Nov. 3 vote will not change the golf course’s ability to serve beer, despite mayoral challenger James Mashburn’s contention that “it should be taken out of the clubhouse,” in the event the people were to vote no on the issue.
Mashburn says he is vehemently against the sale of alcohol, “always have [been] and always will be.”
However, in the event the referendum passes, Mashburn thinks “permits ought to be low enough for all businesses to be able to afford it,” allowing an even playing field for local businesses.
From an economic standpoint, the candidates differ on what potential revenue the sale of spirits could bring.
Florence said, “There would not be much to gain. With only a $10,000 to $12,000 increase, it’s not enough.”
Council member Norm Hodge agrees. “In discussions that I have had with city leaders from Ft. Oglethorpe, Ringgold and Summerville, alcohol by the drink has not had as much of an economic impact as you might think. I don't believe it will pass here in LaFayette,” Hodge said.
“It would help the city. It would help it tremendously, I believe,” Talley countered. “That’s what this town needs. LaFayette needs more growth.”
Even those opposed to alcohol in the city admit to taking their dollars to Battlefield Parkway for dinner.
“I have eaten at those restaurants,” Mashburn admitted.
Wendell Bruce is one of two local restaurant owners who have embraced the concept of brews with burgers, saying imbibing increases the bottom line.
Bruce and his wife operate the Village Sports Bar and Grill in Fieldstone Farms on U.S. 27 in Rock Spring. “I saw a need for it since everyone rides to Chattanooga,” said Bruce, who added that he has seen “great support from the local people. Everyone understands we are not one of those Rossville Boulevard type bars.”
With “nothing comparable in the area,” Bruce says the restaurant draws a capacity crowd on Friday nights, when live music is played.
Village Sports Bar and Grill has been open for several months and averages 18-20% of gross sales even though they only serve beer and wine.
"There is no difference between having a beer at home and having one at an eating establishment, they are both wrong. I would like to recommend we out law all sales of liquor, I like the word prohibition. I know that will not stop people from drinking, but at least it's not condoning it. Some of our councilmen would leaglize prostitution if they could tax it. And the sad thing is, in alot of the churches in this town, sitting on the pews are the some of the very same ones who the night before sat on the bar stool or at home in their lazyboy with a Budlight in their hand. GOD HELP US!"
Excuse me, but the attitude you demonstrate is exactly what is wrong with the City of LaFayette right now. Outlaw liquor? Great! While we're at it, let's outlaw cigarettes! They're killing us also. Let's outlaw soft drinks! They're making out children fat! Also, there's probably a cancer-causing agent in the shampoo you're using. If it were up to you and people like you, we would all be walking around sober, suffering nicotine withdrawel, dragging our fat kids around by their dirty hair. You, my friend, are not the only voice in LaFayette. Like it or not, LaFayette is on the way down the tubes. Count the number of businesses that have closed. The sale and consumption of alcohol within the city limits is not the problem. Outdated attitudes are the problem.
It goes a little something like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo, much like the brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. The slowest buffalo are the sick and weak so they die off first, making it possible for the herd to move at a faster pace. Like the buffalo the weak, slow brain cells are the ones that are killed off by beer drinking, making the brain operate faster. The moral of the story, drink more beer, it will make you smarter.
"Let the Bible thumpers have one place in earth where they can take thier kids and not have to see a bunch of sots sitting on a bar stool."
You DO have such a place. It's called a church.
VWN
Leaving the vote to the people is the onlh chance LaFayette has. When judge Hollis stated, "If someone wants to drink, they go to Dalton or Chattanooga, then drive back to LaFayette all boozed up,” he's merely wanting to be re-elected in a city belonging to the Bible belt. Just because someone wants a drink with their meal doesn't mean they're going to be "all boozed up" at the end of the meal.
Go ahead, let the extra revenue pass you by. Give it to cities that deserve it, like Fort Oglethorpe, Dalton, and Chattanooga. It's called PROGRESS; something the LaFayette City Council obviously wants no part of.
VWN