Eastland Residents Hoping To Bring Alcohol Sales To Town
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: June 19, 2012
"I think it would be good for Eastland," says Judy Murdock.
"It can be a positive thing," Jose Garcia adds.
Although not everyone will admit to supporting Eastland converting from a dry to wet county, the topic has intrigued many in the community.
"I think it's dangerous. I think at least if you have it in Eastland people will quit driving so far and drinking and driving," says Murdock.
Business owners see the many opportunities this change could bring the community.
"On the interstate there's a lot of demand for it because you have a lot of people traveling, with a hotel next door, that want to stay the night and have a night cap and get some rest," says Garcia.
Jose Garcia is one of the co-owners of Eastland's La Familia Mexican restaurant.
When the restaurant came to Eastland about a year and a half ago, they realized there was no place patrons could go for an alcoholic beverage.
That is when they decided to apply for a private club permit.
"We were just going to keep it a private club where people can enjoy pina colada a margarita, or what have you," explains Garcia.
Coming all the way from Chicago made him a little apprehensive about going through with the change.
He says, "Didn't really jump on it, we put it in limbo for a while because we wanted the people, the community, the churches, everyone to know we're trying to bring in a very safe atmosphere."
When Garcia found out the Eastland Citizens for Progress existed and the group was collecting signatures for two petitions that would allow retailers and dining establishments like his to sell alcoholic beverages, his excitement was sparked all over again.
"We don't want to come in and change anything we were just wanting to add to better things," says Garcia.
He hopes taking one small step in business will lead to an even bigger step on the map for Eastland.
"It can bring in revenue dollars and tax dollars. Hopefully we can get developers out here and Eastland can be in my eyes, the next future Weatherford," says Garcia.
"It can be a positive thing," Jose Garcia adds.
Although not everyone will admit to supporting Eastland converting from a dry to wet county, the topic has intrigued many in the community.
"I think it's dangerous. I think at least if you have it in Eastland people will quit driving so far and drinking and driving," says Murdock.
Business owners see the many opportunities this change could bring the community.
"On the interstate there's a lot of demand for it because you have a lot of people traveling, with a hotel next door, that want to stay the night and have a night cap and get some rest," says Garcia.
Jose Garcia is one of the co-owners of Eastland's La Familia Mexican restaurant.
When the restaurant came to Eastland about a year and a half ago, they realized there was no place patrons could go for an alcoholic beverage.
That is when they decided to apply for a private club permit.
"We were just going to keep it a private club where people can enjoy pina colada a margarita, or what have you," explains Garcia.
Coming all the way from Chicago made him a little apprehensive about going through with the change.
He says, "Didn't really jump on it, we put it in limbo for a while because we wanted the people, the community, the churches, everyone to know we're trying to bring in a very safe atmosphere."
When Garcia found out the Eastland Citizens for Progress existed and the group was collecting signatures for two petitions that would allow retailers and dining establishments like his to sell alcoholic beverages, his excitement was sparked all over again.
"We don't want to come in and change anything we were just wanting to add to better things," says Garcia.
He hopes taking one small step in business will lead to an even bigger step on the map for Eastland.
"It can bring in revenue dollars and tax dollars. Hopefully we can get developers out here and Eastland can be in my eyes, the next future Weatherford," says Garcia.
Comments
Again, in the case of De Leon, they had two alcohol elections. The first one failed and the second one passed by one vote. De Leon is overrun with drunks. Even people who don't drink support the alcohol sale. It's really sad when a small community is so desperate for funds that they cheerfully promote the sale of a mind-altering drug as a good thing. Again, it's a sign of the times. Sad times.
sheila s.
June 22, 2012 at 2:23 am
William, if you've read just one or two articles of any kind on bigcountryhomepage.com and especially those written by "Marlisa Goldsmith", you'll quickly see that they could care less about accuracy of their information, spelling, grammar, punctuation or anything else. It's a sign of the times.
sheila s.
June 22, 2012 at 2:20 am
I find nothing wrong with wanting to bring the sale of alcohol to Eastland. I think it would actually be a good thing. I see the benifits and the issues. But i wish people would get things right and quit saying Eastland is a dry county for in fact it in not a dry county. Ranger Tx is part of Eastland county and it sells beer wine and liquor.
William W.
June 20, 2012 at 8:54 pm
I see the same ignorance I saw in De Leon when leading up to its alcohol elections. Proponent always use the same excuse - "they can buy it here, so they won't be drinking and driving, making the roads safer". This is B.S. First of all, whether your drive one block or 20 miles to get your booze, state laws prohibit open containers or drinking while driving. Since De Leon started selling alcohol, the streets and ditches are littered more than ever with beer bottles, cans and those giant empty careboard beer boxes. I see people drinking and driving constantly. It's sad that communities have to lower themselves and have to accept alcohol sales as a cure for their financial woes.
sheila s.
June 20, 2012 at 11:46 am
I see the same ignorance I saw in De Leon when leading up to its alcohol elections. Proponent always use the same excuse - "they can buy it here, so they won't be drinking and driving, making the roads safer". This is B.S. First of all, whether your drive one block or 20 miles to get your booze, state laws prohibit open containers or drinking while driving. Since De Leon started selling alcohol, the streets and ditches are littered more than ever with beer bottles, cans and those giant empty careboard beer boxes. I see people drinking and driving constantly. It's sad that communities have to lower themselves and have to accept alcohol sales as a cure for their financial woes.
sheila s.
June 20, 2012 at 11:46 am
