Gloucester City Business Association Urges Voters to Ok New Sunday Tavern Hours
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Gloucester City Business Association (GCBA) requests that all city residents vote “Yes” for extended Sunday hours during the General Election November 8.
Municipal Question 2 on the election ballot states:
“In order for our restaurants and bars to be competitive with businesses in surrounding communities, shall Sunday hours during which the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail for consumption on premises in the City of Gloucester be expanded to include those hours between 12 PM / Noon (commencement) and 2 AM (cessation) ?”
INTERPRETATIVE
STATEMENT
A “Yes” is a vote to permit Sunday sales between 12 p.m./Noon and 2 a.m. A “No” vote is a vote against changing the hours during which sales of alcoholic beverages are now permitted in this municipality.
GCBA sponsored petitions and accumulated 400-plus registered Gloucester City voter signatures to place this question on the ballot. Currently restaurants and bars in Gloucester City are not permitted to open until 1 p.m. and must close by 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Restaurants and bars are able to remain open until 2 a.m. or later in the surrounding communities of Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Haddon Township, Oaklyn and Pennsauken.
The current 10 p.m. closing time in Gloucester City requires that bars and restaurants close before the end of sporting events such as pro football (including the Super Bowl), baseball games including the playoffs and World Series, college and pro basketball games including March Madness, ice hockey games including the Stanley Cup, and special events such as the Academy Awards.
During the current difficult economic times, “the GCBA believes our restaurants and bars should not be disadvantaged versus competing businesses in surrounding communities,” GCBA President Bob Booth said.
“GCBA believes a ‘Yes’ vote for extended Sunday hours will benefit not only our restaurants and bars but will be helpful to Gloucester City’s economy as well as improve motor vehicle safety since local residents currently must leave Gloucester City and travel to surrounding towns to watch Sunday night events and purchase food and drink,” Booth said.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, small businesses generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years, he said.
GCBA is composed of 70-plus businesses that employ local workers and continually invest in Gloucester City projects and organizations.
“Marketing research also shows 45 percent of every dollar spent at a locally owned business goes back into the community and our tax base,” Booth said.
GCBA will respond to all inquiries regarding Extended Sunday Hours posted on the “Contact Us” section of the association’s website at gcba.info/con-tact.cfm directly or by publishing the answers to frequently asked question on their web site as well as in future editions of the Gloucester City News, Booth said.
A simple majority is required to pass the question, which will then be referred to Mayor and Council for implementation.
“Vote ‘Yes’ for extended hours on November 8. Keep in mind that St. Patrick’s Day falls on Sunday, March 17 in 2013!” Booth said.