The Sandy Springs City Council on Sept. 2 approved an ordinance that will allow City Springs restaurants to sell a higher percentage of alcohol than food.
A self-service wine bar’s plans to open at a Blue Stone Road location helped prompt city staff to propose an amendment to raise the alcohol to food sales ratio from the existing 50/50 ratio up to 65/35, Economic Development Director Chris Burnett told the city council at its meeting. The change only applies to beer and wine sales.
Taste Wine Bar and Market entered negotiations to open its second location at the former Turn Cycling Studio at 6405 Blue Stone Road, Unit 220, according to Burnett’s report. The self-service wine bar and counter-service deli serve sandwiches, charcuterie, salads, snacks, and wines. Its first location is at The Works development on the upper west side of Atlanta.
Related story:
• Council picks development team for phase two of City Springs
Burnett said Taste’s average entree item will be between $15 and $20. A upper-end glass of wine could be $15, so having two glasses of wine with dinner wouldn’t stick to the 50/50 ratio of food to alcohol. That led to the discussion to modify the city’s ordinance, Burnett said.
Modifying the ordinance could attract new food and beverage concepts to the City Springs District like micro-breweries in properties like the Williams Payne House or a future restaurant space expected in the second phase of City Springs, according to Burnett’s report to the city council.
Council member John Paulson said the purpose of the 50/50 ratio was so the city didn’t attract an overwhelming number of saloons. During a work session on the proposal on Aug. 19, he spoke in favor of the change to 65/35 alcohol to food sales if the city doesn’t compromise on that fundamental.
