New McKenzie beer ordinance allows Sunday, Election Day sales
[gtxvideo vid=”4nFIRcOF” playlist=”” pid=”OTSe9U1y” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/4nFIRcOF.jpg” vtitle=”McKenzie Beer Ordinance”]
MCKENZIE, Tenn. — A new ordinance passed by the McKenzie City Council means residents can now buy beer on Sunday after noon and on election days, which previously was banned. McKenzie residents say they’re ready to take advantage of buying beer on Sundays. “It’s better because you don’t have to drive all the way to Paris or Gleason or something to buy your beer now,” McKenzie resident Chelsea Lucas told WBBJ. The new ordinance is something Mayor Jill Holland says was brought to the city council by local business owners. “They wanted them to buy in McKenzie instead of going someplace else,” Holland said. “They did feel like they were losing a lot of business.” With beer sales now legal in McKenzie on Sundays and Election Day, local businesses say they hope they see a change in their bottom line. “It’s obviously going to boost our sales a little bit for at least another day where we can have the bar open,” Matt Thomas, manager at McKenzie’s T-Birds, told WBBJ Friday. Thomas said they used to have to shut down the bar area on Sundays but now want to take advantage of the extra days. “We’re really looking forward to seeing how well this turns out now that the wheels are in motion,” Thomas said. Holland said they won’t know the real impact on tax revenues until later in the year, but she said this is just another way residents can help by shopping local. “We really try hard to buy, to shop, in McKenzie, and I hope it will be the same with the alcohol sales,” Holland said. The new ordinance has been in effect for just more than a week. The mayor said this is the first time alcohol says have ever been allowed on Sunday or Election Day in the city.
