Monday, January 20, 2025–7:12 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
An ordinance amendment regarding variances for Rome’s 50-50 food-to-drink ratio will be back before the Rome Alcohol Control Commission on Tuesday.
Currently, any establishment that sells distilled spirits must generate at least half of its revenue from the sale of food, unless a variance is granted, permitting the business to count the sales of other items besides food toward the ratio.
The original ordinance recommended for approval by the ACC in November would have eliminated future variances, but the three current variances could continue, however, if the business is sold or if a new licensee is requested for that business, then the variance would cease to exist.
The Rome City Commission took no action on the recommendation late last year, sending it back to the ACC.
In the latest draft, the transfer of the license with the accompanying variance to a new owner or licensee would be permitted as would a move of the establishment to another location approved by the Alcohol Control Commission.
Another ordinance amendment deals with allowing of food truck sales to count toward the ratio.
Under the latest draft, an establishment may utilize an affiliation with a mobile food vehicle that is parked on the premises to meet the 50-percent ratio, but the mobile-food-vehicle sales must flow through the establishment’s point-of-sale system and supplement an existing brick-and-mortar kitchen that regularly serves meals on the premises.
Tuesday’s ACC meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Rome City Hall.
Also on the agenda are requests for new beer packages licenses at Sabor Latino at 1410 North Broad Street, Lucky’s Family Food Mart at 29 East Main Street, and Lucky’s One Stop Shop at 610 Calhoun Avenue, along with a new beer and wine package license at Redmond Groceries at 2000 Redmond Circle, and the extension of a new beer, wine & liquor package license request at Mega Beverage Rome, at 42 Hicks Drive, which is the former location of Fazoli’s. The license was originally approved on September 18, 2023.
The ACC will also consider an ordinance amendment for alcohol consumption at the library amphitheater.
