An issue that was hotly-contested in 1945 and 1982 will be up for debate again Saturday morning at Caledonia Town Hall.
For nearly three decades, Cal-City Grocery was the only place within the city limits where cold beer could be purchased thanks to a grandfather clause following a 1982 ordinance limiting the sale of alcohol.
But since the death of owner Bill Pearrow in September 2010, the future of the store has been uncertain. Cal-City Grocery closed last fall and a potential new owner, Jeff Doty of Aberdeen, is ready to re-open, but because the store was closed for more than 24 hours, the grandfather clause was rendered null and void.
Doty told aldermen Tuesday night that he’s waiting to find out if a variance on the 1982 ordinance will be issued; if not, he said, he may not bid on the business.
The board will revisit the issue in a public meeting Saturday at 9 a.m.
Alderman Bill Darnell hasn’t decided how he will vote, but he said Cal-City brought in a steady flow of business, generating — at his best guess — at least 10 percent of the town’s total tax revenue.
Much of that foot traffic came from across county and state lines, Darnell said. According to the state Department of Revenue, 36 of Mississippi’s 82 counties are dry for beer and light wine sales, though some municipalities are wet for sales of beer.
Eugene O’Mary and his wife, Michelle, know first-hand how busy Cal-City Grocery could be. They live two houses away from the Main Street store, and Michelle O’Mary said she often stood at her kitchen window, watching the people coming and going.
“We’re dead against the beer,” she said. “We are not for the beer-selling at all.”
Eugene O’Mary is equally adamant. As the pastor of True Life Worship Center, less than a half-mile away, he’s troubled by the influx of people as well as the message it sends to children.
“I think it kind of draws more attention to the town as to the type of people (who come), but I think no matter where it’s at, if they want it, they’re going to get it,” he said. ” … It’s kind of showing your kids it’s really OK when it’s not.”
He doesn’t condone drinking. He looks out his window and prays for those who are bound by an addiction to alcohol.
“I want to help you find the Jesus that can free you up from that,” he said. “I don’t look at people, where they are, what they’re doing. I look at their heart and what God can do with them.”
This isn’t the first time Caledonia has faced the question of whether or not to allow beer. The first ordinance, prohibiting beer sales within 1,500 feet of a church or school, was written in 1945.
That ordinance was challenged in 1980 when a local store, Killebrew’s, began selling beer. The case went all the way to the Mississippi Supreme Court, where Caledonia’s beer ordinance was upheld.
But in 1982, trouble started brewing again. Rumors began circulating that the owner of a package store was going to open a nightclub. In response, the board of aldermen adopted another ordinance stating that beer could only be sold warm, in six-packs or cases, within the city limits.
Cal-City Grocery was selling cold beer at the time of the 1982 ordinance and was grandfathered in as an exception to the ordinance.
Since then, the 1945 and 1982 ordinances have existed concurrently, Smith said.
The city limits have nearly doubled since then, so more places could potentially sell beer now than back in 1982, he said.
Alderman Mike Savage said he’s had several people call him about the possibility of cold beer sales within the city limits again, but he will wait until Saturday’s meeting to make a decision about it.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Mayor George Gerhart said. “It will help the town out as far as revenue coming in.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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