Collierville residents urge board to separate liquor and wine license decisions from beer agenda, ask for pause

Several residents and local liquor-store owners told the Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Aug. 25 that proposed changes to off-premise liquor and wine licensing deserve separate and careful consideration rather than being bundled with beer-board business.

Jason Duff, who identified himself as the owner of a recently opened store at 1334 Mountainside Drive, told the board he had invested personal assets, including his home, to open his business and asked the board to slow the process for issuing two additional licenses. “I am asking y’all to not even necessarily deny it, but just to slow down,” Duff said. He said a first-come, first-served approach and a 250-foot distance requirement could allow a better-financed competitor to open next to his store and “put me right out of business” before he can establish himself.

Will Hayes, owner of Cheers Wines and Spirits at 366 New Byhalia Road, said liquor and wine license decisions “deserve thoughtful, careful consideration because they impact Collierville’s future,” and urged the board to remove liquor and wine licensing from the beer-board agenda so applications can be vetted separately. Hayes questioned whether a simple numerical rule such as “one store per 10,000 residents” fits Collierville and warned that rushing could lead to oversaturation and profits leaving the town.

Both speakers asked the board to provide time for existing businesses to establish themselves and for the town to vet applicants for local commitment and ethical standards. No board action on licensing was taken at the meeting; the remarks were made during the citizen-comment portion of the agenda.

The board acknowledged the comments; staff and the mayor noted they had taken the requests and that items on the beer-board agenda were separate. No formal motion, ordinance or vote on liquor and wine licenses occurred during the meeting.