Monday, September 25, 2023–8:56 a.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
Following a lengthy debate, motions, substitute motions, and a split vote, Peaches on Broad Street is getting its liquor pouring license back.
The recommendation from the Rome Alcohol Control Commission was to reinstate the license with a stipulation that concert ticket sales be used, along with food sales to meet the 50-50 food-to-drink ratio.
Commissioner Jamie Doss made a motion to approve but with a mandatory closing time of midnight, instead of the standard time of 2 a.m. That motion would have also implemented a midnight closing for other establishments that use sales of items other than food to meet the ratio, such as Old Havana and Alibi Prohibition Lounge. The latter had just been granted permission by the commission to stay open until 2 a.m. minutes before.
Doss cited fairness to businesses who have worked hard to meet the 50-50 ratio as his reason for proposing the midnight closing time.
The motion led to a spirited exchange between Doss and Commissioner Mark Cochran.
“I made no secret earlier tonight that when Alibi came up if that motion failed, I would have a second motion that those businesses that sell anything but food or businesses that do not meet the food-drink ratio would all close at midnight,” Doss said.
“But you’ve linked two things that are their own separate entities,” Cochran said. “If you are going to start doing that, I guess we are going to start acting like Congress in Washington D.C. and start throwing crap in every amendment that we have.”
“I think you’re out of order,” Doss responded.
“That’s fine, you can think that,” Cochran replied.
Doss’ motion failed to get the required five votes needed to pass.
Commissioner Craig McDaniel then made a motion to approve the recommendation from the ACC without the midnight closing time.
“What she [Peaches owner Stephanie Shaw] does is different than from a restaurant,” McDaniel said. “She’s an events venue. That may sound a little outrageous until you realize that the government owns a building [The Forum] that we are treating much more favorably, in terms of selling alcohol, and they can stay open until 2 o’clock in the morning. We are telling a privately-owned business that pays taxes that we are going to treat them differently.”
Commissioners Jim Bojo, Cochran, Bill Collins, and McDaniel voted in favor while Commissioners Elaina Beeman, Doss, and Randy Quick voted against with Commissioner Bonny Askew abstaining.
Mayor Sundai Stevenson then cast the deciding “yes” vote.
In May, the city commission terminated the establishment’s liquor license on grounds that it was not meeting the 50-50 ratio. The action came with a stipulation that the license could be reapplied for in three months.
Unless a variance is granted, establishments in the City of Rome that sell distilled spirits by the drink must also be a restaurant, selling at least as much food as liquor. The ratio does not apply to beer and wine.
