Church and Blues Cafe At Odds Over Liquor Permit Application
By:
Updated: January 23, 2013
A Little Rock church and a nearby jazz cafe don't see eye-to-eye over that eatery getting a liquor permit but that's about as intense as the disagreement goes.
There's no sign of bad blood or harsh words between the owners of Dixon Road Blues Cafe and the Primrose United Methodist Church.
They simply disagree.
"We have enough challenges in this area already that have associations with alcohol and drugs, we don't need one that close to children that are going to be growing up looking at the blues," said Pastor Clayton Bulice.
Bulice said 175 people have signed a petition opposing the restaurant's request with the Alcohol Beverage Control Division. Of those, 75 are members of his church.
The restaurant's manager said customers want to be able to enjoy a drink and watch a live jazz band.
"The majority of the people that come in here are just literally dying for us to a get a permit or license," said Larry Evans, restaurant manager.
He said the cafe has collected 120 signatures in support of their effort.
The house of worship and the cafe are about a quarter mile apart from each other in Union Township.
Evans said the restaurant owners will file their permit request with the ABC board later this month.
The restaurant opened its doors in early December 2012.
There's no sign of bad blood or harsh words between the owners of Dixon Road Blues Cafe and the Primrose United Methodist Church.
They simply disagree.
"We have enough challenges in this area already that have associations with alcohol and drugs, we don't need one that close to children that are going to be growing up looking at the blues," said Pastor Clayton Bulice.
Bulice said 175 people have signed a petition opposing the restaurant's request with the Alcohol Beverage Control Division. Of those, 75 are members of his church.
The restaurant's manager said customers want to be able to enjoy a drink and watch a live jazz band.
"The majority of the people that come in here are just literally dying for us to a get a permit or license," said Larry Evans, restaurant manager.
He said the cafe has collected 120 signatures in support of their effort.
The house of worship and the cafe are about a quarter mile apart from each other in Union Township.
Evans said the restaurant owners will file their permit request with the ABC board later this month.
The restaurant opened its doors in early December 2012.
Comments
I am a waitress at Dixon Rd Blues cafe and as of yesterday January 25 we now have over 220 signatures on our Liquor License petition. I love working at the blues cafe, and If certain people would just give this place a chance and come in and eat and meet all of our staff they would see that this is not going to be a "bar" or a "Juke Joint" as some people have said. All I want and everyone else who works there wants is to serve all the residents of landmark great food and give our community a chance to go somewhere and to be greeted with a smile, to relax maybe have a drink and to come in a make new friends. I want to know my customers are happy as I would people in my community I love landmark and I think the people here deserve this.
michelle m.
January 26, 2013 at 10:11 am
