Tuesday, October 29, 2024–12:12 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

Opponents of a proposed liquor store on Riverside Parkway made their case to the Rome City Commission Monday night.

Last week, for the third time, the Rome Alcohol Control Commission voted to approve an extension of the beer, wine, and liquor package license request for Cherokee Valley, LLC at the corner of Riverside Parkway and Riverside Industrial Drive.

Ron Swinford told the city commission Monday that he and others do not want a liquor store across from Chieftains Museum and next door to the Social Security office.

I know most of you probably agree with me on this,” he said. “The question is– what are we going to do about it? I know that there are problems with revoking that license. I know that y’all can get sued possibly, but sometimes you just got to do what is right.”

Sam Moss told commissioners that he has nothing against liquor stores, but locating one across the street from one of the most historic places in the state would be a mistake.

I certainly think it would not help the appearance of the neighborhood,” he said. “It certainly would be out of character with what we’d like to see near Chieftains Museum, and there’s even the possibility that it might have a negative impact on some of the things that were planning for the future at Chieftains.”

According to Rome City Commissioner Bill Collins, many times the use of a property is granted by right depending on the zoning, and it never comes to the commission for discussion.

“We are working on it see what we could do to get ahead of the situation,” he said. “I don’t know what might happen with this situation in the Ridgeferry Park area, but we’re working on it.”

City commissioner Jamie Doss agreed.

“We do have a problem with convenience stores,” Doss said. “We do need to look at it and we probably need to take it up at a retreat. It’s just really almost ridiculous.”

The applicant told the ACC last week that he plans to break ground on the store in the next two months.