The Ellijay City Council approved several new or renewed alcohol licenses, including one with a stipulation, when closing out the year with a brief meeting Monday, Dec. 21.
Councilmembers approved on-premise beer, wine and distilled spirit consumption licenses for Cajun Depot Grill, La Catrina Tacos and Margaritas, Kasei Sushi and Sake, Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza and The Alley. On-premise beer and wine consumption licenses were OK’d for Cantaberry Restaurant and Boardwalk Pizza and Pub.
The council also approved an off-premise beer and wine consumption license for The Ideal Market with a stipulation that must first be met.
At a public hearing that preceded the council meeting, Mayor Al Hoyle said the gas station on Old Northcutt Road has an issue with its septic system, per the county Environmental Health Department.
The store’s owner, Martin Velasquez, attended the public hearing. He told the council he’s working on resolving those issues and intends to open the vacant gas station by the last week of January.
Hoyle noted the actual license won’t be issued until the septic issues are satisfactory with environmental health.
The council also heard from an employee of The Alley, Terry Ledford, who answered questions about food service at the local bowling alley. Councilmembers had tabled that venue’s consumption license application from the November meeting due to questions about its food to alcohol ratio.
Police Chief Ed Lacey told the council that distilled spirit licenses are usually reserved for restaurants, and the entertainment facility still has to show a 50-50 percentage of revenue from food and beverage sales.
When asked by Hoyle if the business has a food service permit, Ledford said it does and he got ServSafe qualifications last week. The license was later approved.