Mixed-drink referendum on Troutman’s May ballot

It might take opening a few bottles to open a few doors.

Voters in the unincorporated parts of Davidson Township and the Town of Troutman will decide on a mixed-drink referendum in the May primary.

The referendum will allow businesses to apply for mixed-drink licenses and will usher in more fine-dining experiences.

“It’s the national and regional restaurants,” said Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Bradley. “Without the ability to served mixed drinks, they won’t even look at you.”

Maria Haughton, treasurer of the Troutman Partners in Progress, said the referendum means more than a possible martini after work. It will give Troutman residents an opportunity to embrace the incoming growth and build up the town’s tax base.

Residents should look at it as a way to bring in nice, sit-down restaurants instead of fast-food chains, she said.

“Two years from now the growth will have passed us by,” she said, referring to the next time Troutman can hold such a referendum. “Now is the time for growth in Troutman. We can decide how we want to grow. If we want some nicer restaurants, we are going to need this.”

Bradley said he heard there were a lot of objections to Statesville’s referendum in 1986, but without it, the city wouldn’t have Red Lobster Seafood restaurant, Sagebrush Steakhouse or Applebee’s Bar and Grill.

Bradley said after the referendum passed in Mt. Airy, where he used to be chamber president, a Chili’s, Longhorn Steakhouse and a Ruby Tuesday’s opened.

The year following the restaurants’ grand opening, the Greater Mt. Airy Chamber of Commerce kept tabs on the number of driving while intoxicated violations and noticed a decrease.
Bradley believes it is because restaurants provide a controlled environment because they keep a close eye on what their patrons consume.

Right now, few establishments in Davidson Township, which surrounds Mooresville on the western side of Inter-state 77, have the ability to served mixed drinks.

Places like Jokers Dueling Piano Bar and The Point Lake and Golf Club can serve alcohol because they qualify as sports clubs under the state Alcohol Beverage Control laws. In order to be a sports club, a facility either has to have an 18-hole golf course or two paved tennis courts.

Jokers, which is a part of Queen’s Landing, has the designation because of its tennis courts.

Queen’s Landing owner Jack Williams said he thinks the referendum will level the playing field a little and let other establishments, such as Uncle MILF’s Lake Norman Tavern, get their mixed-drink license.

“I would go along with it 100 percent,” he said. “I don’t have a problem at all with it. I would rather have that than be annexed into Mooresville. We got everything in Mooresville except a Carrabba’s Italian Grill.”

Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce executive director Karen Shore said mixed-drink sales help drive upper-scale businesses, especially related to restaurants.

Companies look at what opportunities are available for their employees when they look at an area.

“People like choices, and it’s one more level of choice you can provide,” Shore said.

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Posted on 03/12/08 at 08:37 AM
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