Arkansas-side business owners say measure would help recoup lost revenue

The inability to sell alcohol on Sundays in Texarkana, Ark., has hurt several businesses’ bottom lines in recent months, store owners and operators said Friday.

“Yes, in beer and wine, we have lost sales since the Texas side legalized (to sell beer and wine),” said Nathan Hunter, a sales team member at Vincent’s Fine Wines & Liquors.

Texarkana, Texas, voters approved off-premise beer and wine sales in the city in late 2014. This includes Sunday sales.

In Arkansas, state law does not allow Sunday alcohol sales outside of private clubs and restaurants.

Therefore, Texarkana, Ark., liquor stores are closed and establishments like grocery and convenience stores turn down customers’ attempts to purchase adult beverages on Sundays.

Arkansas-side merchants support a proposed measure that could permit Sunday alcohol sales.

“I’m fine with it. That’s fine. Not selling liquor on Sundays doesn’t stop people from drinking on Sunday. We just lose business,” Hunter said.

On Monday, the Texarkana, Ark., City Board of Directors will consider a resolution. If approved, the resolution will not legalize Sunday alcohol sales. Instead, it would give Arkansas-side residents a way to decide the issue of Sunday alcohol sales in a public vote, possibly in November.

“I don’t see why the Texas side can and we can’t (sell alcohol on Sundays). We had (liquor sales) first,” said James Ballard, manager of Rock House Liquor Store.

It’s unclear if the proposed measure in Texarkana, Ark., would allow sale of all alcohol on Sundays or just beer and wine.

Ballard said he has mostly noticed the drop in beer sales at Rock House since Texas-side stores started selling beer and wine.

“Texas-side customers still have to come to us for everything besides beer and wine. Sales are more limited over there …. we still sell a lot of liquor. But not nearly as much beer.”

Lane Rogers, owner of Chubby Cheeks Liquor, was circumspect about the proposed prospect.

“I guess my answer is any time we can increase opportunities for sales, I’m for it.” He was not aware of the proposed resolution. “News to me, man,” he said. “We’ll do whatever the city wants us to.”

However, he made it clear that it should be up to the citizens of Texarkana, Ark. “I want to leave it up to the citizens,” he said. The city board will consider the resolution at its 6:30 p.m. meeting Monday at City Hall, at East Third and Walnut streets.