Alcohol referendums pass

By Nicole LIvengood  

NOVEMBER 5, 2010 12:45 p.m. (0)

Voters said yes to the referendum on Sunday alcohol sales Tuesday in Greer and Simpsonville.

“Citizens of the city spoke,” says Russell Hawes, the City Administrator of Simpsonville. “The economic benefits of restaurants that are open on Sunday being able to serve all manner of beverages is important to our citizens.”

Of a city population of more than 18,000 residents, 50 percent of registered voters cast ballots resulting in a 59 percent to 41 percent vote in favor of the measure.

Any Simpsonville business with a permit to sell alcohol during the week will be able to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday.

A similar referendum passed in Greer. Sales of alcohol will be permitted by bars and restaurants on Sundays, but grocery and convenience stores will still be prohibited from selling alcohol on Sunday.

“We are very happy the referendum passed,” said Stan Christofferson, who owns Sushi Mizu, Great Bay Oyster House and Taco Parilla, all in downtown Greer.

It has been tough for Greer restaurants to compete with those in surrounding cities, he says. People would come to his establishments to eat dinner and then leave to go take advantage of Greenville nightlife on Saturdays.

“People voted yes, because they are ready for a change,” said Christofferson. “Our entire community of restaurants will now be able to compete with restaurants as far away as North Carolina where alcohol sales are allowed on Sunday.”

Greer city officials declined to comment on the vote results for what Greer Chamber of Commerce members acknowledged was a heated issue for voters.

Steve Owens, communications manager for the City of Greer, said out of 4,467 votes cast, 2,572 votes were in favor of the referendum.

Many of the restaurants affected by the referendum will be increasing their business hours when the new law is in place, giving residents more opportunity to spend money in their community.

Two of Christofferson’s establishments will have new hours. Taco Parilla located at 104 E. Poinsett St. will be open and have extended kitchen hours on Sunday and Great Bay Oyster House will be able to stay open until 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, as opposed to closing at midnight on Saturday.

Denise Vandenberghe, owner of Wild Ace Pizza and Pub, says she will also change her hours of operation.

“We will be opening on Sunday once we get a marketing plan in place,” she said. “But the referendum doesn’t just affect our bottom line, it affects the whole community.”

When people come out to eat at area restaurants, they stop at area stores and get gas. It brings in more money for all of the area businesses, not just restaurants, she said.

Wild Ace is one of several restaurants that will be hiring to fill their new hours. Vandenberghe will be adding seven employees to her payroll including servers, kitchen staff and a bartender.

Local restaurants including Christofferson’s trio, Wild Ace Pizza & Pub, Café Rivera, Rhythm and Brews, and Applebee’s of Greer and other Greer businesses banded together to form a group called Greer Tomorrow to gain support for the vote. The group hired a political consultant firm in Greenville to help the campaign. They also delivered literature to households explaining what the referendum could do for growth in the city.