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FWB looking into increasing hours for alcohol sales
October 13, 2009 7:44 PM
Kari C. Barlow
Daily News
FORT WALTON BEACH — Stores and restaurants in city limits are one step closer to being able to sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven days a week.
The City Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to an amended alcohol sales ordinance that lifts restrictions on the times alcohol can be sold.
Existing regulations prohibit most businesses from selling alcohol until 1 p.m. Sundays. Restaurants that serve full meals can begin serving alcohol at 10 a.m.
If the ordinance gets final approval at the next City Council meeting, stores and eateries can start selling alcohol at 7 a.m. Sundays.
The council voted 5-0 to move the amendment forward. Councilman Virgil Miller was not in attendance and Councilman Bill Garvie abstained from voting because his family owns Staff’s Restaurant in downtown Fort Walton Beach.
Councilman Dennis Reeves said the change will help city businesses compete with businesses outside the Fort Walton Beach.
The council began considering changes to the alcohol sales ordinance in April. Members agreed to loosen the hours at a special meeting Sept. 15.
“We appreciate the City Council doing this,” said Piper Gaffrey, owner of Stella Art in downtown Fort Walton Beach.
Gaffrey, who attended the council meeting, said the old law hurt businesses.
Randy Cleveland, who co-owns Coasters, said the new ordinance will help city businesses compete with counterparts in areas such as Shalimar and Okaloosa Island.
“The chain restaurants are able to open up and serve alcohol at 10 a.m. if they want to,” Cleveland said. “Now we can do the same. … It’s relaxing some things that needed relaxed.”
He said the new alcohol sales hours are an initial step to help downtown grow.
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