Council clears changes to pool-room rules, allowing alcohol sales and later hours for proposed Lewisburg Billiards

The Louisburg Town Council approved two amendments to local ordinances on pool rooms, permitting regulated alcoholic beverage sales and extending permitted hours of operation to 2 a.m.

Town staff and applicant Freddie Edwards described a proposal to open a billiards facility, branded in discussion as "Lewisburg Billiards," in the former Tar River Distillery on East Nash Street. Mr. Satterwhite, town staff, said the applicant intends to host American Poolplayers Association (APA) league play, operate seven 7-foot tables and one 9-foot table (the applicant said he had ordered ten 7-foot tables), and offer supervised, teen-only hours on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during which no alcohol would be sold.

Edwards told the council the facility would not be a bar; he said he plans only bottled beer, soft drinks and light concessions, that the proprietor would be a retired law-enforcement officer, and that he would engage security and retired law-enforcement deputies to maintain order. "I won't own a bar," Edwards said. "The plan is ... to sell bottled beer and sodas." (Freddie Edwards, proprietor)

Town staff recommended permitting alcoholic beverages under regulation and said hours might require further police input. Chief Lincoln, present for the discussion, said the police department would enforce age checks and other controls and urged clear procedures for special events and kiosk sales. Miss Collins (staff) noted that current local ordinance Section 6.3 prohibits sale of alcoholic beverages at amusement establishments; the amendments remove that prohibition and change closing hours from midnight to 2 a.m. (current Section 6.1).

Council members raised concerns including the town's historical reasons for restricting pool halls, the risk of disorderly conduct, and how league play and spectator crowds would be managed. Edwards said APA league rules and table counts would provide structure and that he had coordinated with the APA district coordinator. Councilors also discussed youth access and welcomed the proposed Saturday teen hours as a supervised recreational option.

After public hearing remarks and council discussion, a motion to adopt the two amendments was moved and seconded; the council voted to approve both amendments.

The ordinance changes alter two elements of the town code: they remove the blanket prohibition on alcoholic beverage sales in pool rooms and extend closing times for pool rooms from midnight to 2 a.m. The council did not add bar-style service: the applicant described beverage service as limited to bottled beer and light concessions and committed to no smoking, security, and age-restricted access during most hours.

The council approved the amendments and instructed staff and the police department to coordinate on permitting, required container standards, and enforcement.