LINDA PASSMORE, an employee of The Wine Rack & Package, was busy restocking shelves Tuesday. Sales of alcoholic beverages by the package or the drink is now permitted on Sundays in Cairo.
Although a majority of voters recently approved allowing sales of alcohol on Sunday within the city limits of Cairo, not many took advantage of the first opportunity. Local retail businesses that sell alcohol by the package report sales were slow Sunday, Dec. 16, the first day Sunday sales were allowed.
“We did have some sales. For the first day, obviously we’ve never sold on Sunday before, but as compared to the rest of the week, it was like a slow day,” said Kevin Singletary, manager of Sun Stop grocery store.
June Duke-Knight, owner of the Wine Rack and Package, said she had a similar experience. “Nobody really knew about it. The ones that did come in the store were happy that we were here because they didn’t have to go to Thomasville, was their word,” Knight said.
Although the two other liquor stores in town, Bird Dog Bottle Company and Zak’s Package, were not open Sunday both will open their doors beginning this weekend.
David Cochran of Bird Dog Bottle said he would open the Cairo store during the holidays beginning Sunday, Dec. 22, but he was not sure if it would continue operating on Sundays after the New Year. “We plan to be open on Sundays during the holidays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. and see how it goes going forward,” Cochran said.
A representative of Zak’s said they planned to operate the store on Sundays, 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., for the foreseeable future.
The Wine Rack’s Sunday operations are set, at least for the next few weeks. “After Super Bowl Sunday, I’m going to decide what I’m going to do,” said Knight.
On the Nov. 5 election, voters here decided 757 to 503 to allow alcohol by the package in Cairo and 741 to 528 to let sales of alcohol by the drink take place. The Cairo City Council approved a revised alcohol ordinance to allow Sunday sales during their regular meeting last week.
