Published: May 08, 2009 04:12 pm      

Sunday alcohol sales denied -- again

The issue of Sunday alcohol sales by taverns was disposed of in March, when the Suwannee County Commission closed a loophole in existing law that allowed county bars to operate seven days a week.

One south county tavern owner wasn’t happy with the result, however, and last week asked the commission to make an exception for his establishment. Randy Thomas believes The Keg Room, just outside Branford, should be allowed to stay open on Sundays.

"By being closed those hours they are choking me to death," Thomas said by phone Wednesday. "I'm ready to fight this thing to federal court."

The previous ordinance banning Sunday alcohol sales did not specifically refer to taverns, and Thomas operated his establishment seven days a week. He believes that practice grandfathers his establishment into compliance with current law.

Commissioner Wesley Wainwright, whose district the bar is in, said Thomas's attorney approached him about the matter.

"Their attorney feels they can be grandfathered in," Wainwright said at the meeting. "They feel they have good grounds."

Commissioners took no action on Thomas’s request at Tuesday’s meeting.

Commissioner Douglas Udell, who voted against the change in March, was displeased with the commission’s failure to act.

"The people purchased a building ... and they did it with the understanding of what they could do there and did just that," said Udell. "Now they can't do what they purchased the building for, so I think they should be grandfathered in."

Thomas said he has retained two lawyers and is ready to pursue legal action.