Snellville expected to pass Sunday liquor sales

By Shane Blatt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When Robert Rigby opened his Snellville pizzeria, he figured he'd rake in big bucks on Sundays selling beer and pizza to patrons watching football on big-screen TVs.

But because of the city's ban on liquor-by-the-drink sales, Rigby couldn't serve beer -- something he didn't realize when he opened Classic Pizza on Scenic Highway in 2007. Consequently, he said, customers would walk in and walk right back out.

"We were dead in the water," he said. "We had decent Saturday sales, but Sunday was a total loss. You can't watch football with no beer."

A year ago, Rigby closed the restaurant and reopened four miles down the road in unincorporated, alcohol-friendly Gwinnett County.

Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer shudders when he hears stories like Rigby's. He fears other restaurants will follow suit -- or decide not to locate in the city.

Monday, the mayor is once again pushing to amend the city's liquor laws to open the tap on Sunday sales. The law also would extend the hours licensed establishments could sell liquor, wine or beer from midnight to 1:55 a.m.

"It's about economic development, plain and simple," Oberholtzer said. "I'm afraid if we don't pass it, we're going to lose what restaurants we have left."

The mayor's efforts have failed three previous times this year amid divisiveness on the City Council. But with November's election, and a council more agreeable to Oberholtzer's ideas, the liquor law has a "99 percent" chance of passing, political observers note.

Snellville is one of just three cities in Gwinnett County that bans liquor-by-the-drink sales. The others are Dacula and Loganville.

Opponents of the measure likely will be out in force, if previous meetings are any indication. The last public hearing in April drew more than 150 residents.

Former Councilman Robert Jenkins, who plans to speak against the measure, said the added availability of liquor would compound alcohol abuse.

"[Alcohol] causes way more destruction to families and businesses than any other single thing in our society," Jenkins said. "No one's willing to step up and say, ‘We've got a problem, guys.'"

Besides, he said, Oberholtzer isn't trying to save restaurants or entice others to enter the city. By extending the alcohol-pouring hours, the mayor would be opening the door to attract bars, Jenkins said.

Larry Rutledge, a deacon at First Baptist Church of Snellville, has pleaded with the council not to make alcohol more accessible.

"It is the Lord's day, and we need to continue to honor that," Rutledge said Friday. "He died on the cross for us. The least we could do is keep his day as holy as possible."

Five years ago, Snellville residents approved liquor-by-the-drink sales in a referendum. But some council members wouldn’t let liquor flow on Sunday because they believed it didn’t address Sunday sales specifically.

Over the past year, city leaders have debated the legality of approving the Sunday measure by a council vote, rather than a referendum. City Attorney Mike Williams noted recently that the city is on solid legal ground to make the call by a council vote.

Oberholtzer hopes this is the last time he needs to broach the subject.

"If I don't get it passed now, I won't get it passed," he said. "Maybe next Sunday, I'll be drinking."

If you go

What: Snellville City Council meeting

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville