Rockmart seeking public comment for Specialty Shop ordinance

The Rockmart City Council will be holding a public hearing during their mid-August regular session to get comments about whether they should allow for a new ordinance to pass that would govern certain kinds of businesses seeking to serve alcohol.

Commonly referred to as a “cigar bar ordinance,” the idea is to allow for owners to seek pouring licenses for specific types of businesses like cigar bars that don’t have traditional food sales to go along with their sales of alcoholic beverages.

City Manager Stacey Smith said the goal of the ordinance is to be able to attract certain types of businesses to specific zoning and give additional entertainment opportunities for Rockmart residents to consider, like a cigar bar.

The idea is to apply the same type of percentage of sales to such establishments when serving alcohol, but instead of requiring a certain amount be in food sales the idea is to make it instead available in such cases like cigars or other tobacco products.

Smith said some interest has already been raised in bringing a cigar bar to Rockmart, much like those in surrounding areas in Rome, Cartersville and Cedartown.

Establishments would still have to take extra measures around zoning rules, health department and building safety codes, and maintaining proper distances from schools and churches when being considered.

Licensing would also be approved only after applications and fees are submitted, and background checks completed by police after the city grants permission on a conditional use basis.

City officials will be hearing public comments ahead of any vote on the matter during the upcoming August 13 session.

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