Sunday alcohol sales might change way restaurants operate in Florence

By Kevin Smetana
SCNOW.COM Multimedia Journalist
Published: July 20, 2008

FLORENCE — Many restaurants in Florence soon might change the way they operate on Sundays if Florence City Council approves a referendum at its meeting in August.

The referendum, requested by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Hospitality Association of South Carolina, would allow on-site Sunday alcohol sales at licensed restaurants.

Sunday alcohol sales are against state law, but cities and counties can change the law with the approval and passing of a referendum.

If the law changes, Apple Annie’s Deli and Pub, located on Palmetto Street, would open its doors to customers on Sundays for the first time since it opened 25 years ago, co-owner Robbie Winstead said.

Apple Annie’s manager Sam Tinsley said it’s nice having Sundays off every week, but he would rather work and make more money. Tinsley described the law as “outdated” and said it’s about time someone tried changing it.

“People move down here from up north, and they are absolutely shocked when they see that we don’t serve — that nobody sells alcohol on Sundays down here,” he said.

Thomas Sponseller, president of the hospitality association, said allowing restaurants to sell alcohol on Sundays would increase sales by $650,000 a month. With the state of the economy, Tinsley and other restaurant managers and owners have said they could use the additional revenue more than ever.

“It’s an extra day of business we could have,” Tinsley said. “We could be open. It’s money in everybody’s pocket, and it’s good for interstate commerce (and) tourism.”

Pastor Vernon LeBuhn of Palmetto Street Church of God said he and the church are against changing the law because Sunday is “the Lord’s day.” LeBuhn said his congregation is not likely to contribute to any increase in revenue restaurants might get from selling alcohol on Sundays.

“Most people that go out and eat on Sundays in the first place are people who come out of church,” LeBuhn said. “I have 840 members here, and a lot of them go out and eat, and they’re not really wanting to go to a restaurant that is serving liquor by the drink beside them.”

Tinsley said Apple Annie’s has plenty of loyal customers who would eat and drink at the restaurant if it opened on Sundays.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Even if I’m not working, I’d like to come up here and have a few beers watching football on Sunday,” he said.

Florence City Manager David Williams said if council approves first reading of the referendum at the Aug. 11 meeting, a special meeting would have to take place in order to give it a second reading in time to make it on the Nov. 4 ballot.