Rome Alcohol Board to Revive Talks on 'Small Bar' Ordinance

Rome’s Alcohol Control Commission is poised to reopen talks on a “small bar” ordinance at its Monday meeting, and consider pouring permits at a new venue owned by a city commissioner.

The citizen board is slated to meet at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 601 Broad St.

The city’s 50/50 food-to-drink sales requirement for any liquor pouring has been a bone of contention for several years. Opponents say it deters new types of venues and proponents contend it prevents the proliferation of dive bars.

A proposed “small bar” category that would have eliminated the ratio in certain instances was voted down by the city commission twice in 2023.

The last rejected proposal would have applied to venues of no more than 1,000 square feet of indoor space, with the optional addition of another 400 square feet outside. Also, the businesses could only serve from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; couldn’t charge an admission fee; and any entertainment would have had to be preapproved by the ACC.

Two of the city commissioners who voted against the change are no longer on the board.

Any action to change the ordinance would start with a recommendation from the ACC to the city commission. A discussion about restarting the process scheduled for last month was deferred due to the absence of two members.

Among the new permit applications for Monday is a request for beer, wine and liquor pouring licenses for Melvin Scott at Elevation Cigar House. The establishment is planned for the former Wright building at 254 N. Fifth Ave. that was purchased by Rome City Commissioner Bill Collins late last year.

Also on the agenda is an application from Guljar Singh to pour beer, wine and liquor at The Peachy Pub at 325 Broad St.

The ACC tabled action last month citing concerns that previous businesses at the site had trouble meeting the food sales requirement to sell liquor. Singh had also said he wants to allow smoking, including hookah, which would mean limiting entrance to patrons age 21 and older.