Booze boom

Lincoln County commissioners were awash in wine, beer and liquor issues during their May meeting.

They approved a beer and wine license application for on-premise consumption only at the Alto Cafe, passed a liquor license fee schedule by resolution with no increases from last year and approved a package liquor license for an Allsup's in Hondo, a move company officials say could result in tripling the number of jobs associated with the store.

The beer and wine license was requested by Cheryl and Pete Blanchard, who own the popular Alto Cafe at the intersection of Gavilan Canyon and New Mexico Highway 48. The couple said they've received many requests from people, especially during the summer, who would like to like to have a glass of wine or a cold beer with their meals.

They owned a beer and wine license at a restaurant they operated before buying the Alto Cafe 15 years ago and never had a problem, she said.

"Will your hours of operation change?" Commissioner Dallas Draper asked.

Blanchard responded that he was not sure, but it is a possibility they could expand into the evening a few days a week. No one spoke from the public and no objections were submitted.

Commissioners also said yes to an application from Allsup's convenience store for package sales.

Attorney Edwin Tatum, counsel for Allsup's, told commissioners if the license was granted, a new building, triple the current size, would be constructed and would be setback further from U.S. 70.

"Allsup's began in 2008 massively improving the stores it has here and in Texas," he said. If the structures can be rehabilitated. they are, but otherwise, they are torn down and replaced.

"If we have a liquor license, we will construct a new store," he said. Currently, five people are employed. With the liquor license, an immediate jump of one or two employees is expected, he said. Once a new store is opened, the number of employees could triple to 15 or 18, he said.

"It depends on the volume," Tatum said. Of the 78 Allsup's with liquor licenses, all are package, not dispenser, he said.

About 800 loads of dirt will have to be brought in to level the new building site directly behind the existing store, Tatum said. With eight acres, there is room to move the store further from the highway and still build a separation wall between that structure and the school complex, he said.

The new store will be four times as big as the current store, about 5,500 square feet versus 1,300 square feet, he said, adding, "Triple the size and triple the merchandise."

"These new stores are really pretty and will increase values at Hondo," Tatum said. "Mr. Allsup personally is involved in this and is excited about it and with bringing additional economic development to Hondo and merchandise to residents and the traveling public."

Commissioner Elaine Allen, whose district covers the east side of the county, seconded the motion for approval by Commissioner Tom Stewart,  but not until she was assured that some type of sound deflecting fence or wall would be added between the store and a residential property at the edge of the site.

Not many people attended a previous public meeting in Hondo on the Allsup proposal, she noted.

The liquor license came from the Tinnie Silver Dollar restaurant.

Jim Cooper from the Hondo School Board said that body favored the application and no one at the commission's public hearing last week objected.

Tatum pointed out that by offering packaged liquor,  Allsup's probably put many liquor dispensing facilities out of business in towns such as Clovis, which used to have many bars, but is down to a Chili's and one bar.

County Attorney Alan Morel pointed out that approval of the license also must specify a waiver of the 300 feet distance requirement from a school.