RINCON, Ga. — Following voter approval of the city’s first liquor stores, Rincon officials will use a lottery to award the city’s first three retail package liquor licenses.
In November, 69% of voters approved a referendum authorizing the city to issue licenses for the package sale of distilled spirits and to permit and regulate distilled spirits sales on Sundays. Of the 1,423 ballots cast, the measure passed comfortably.
The vote did not change existing alcohol sales already permitted in Rincon. Beer and wine are currently sold in grocery and convenience stores, and beer, wine and distilled spirits may be sold by the drink at bars and restaurants. The referendum cleared the way for stand-alone liquor stores, which do not currently operate in the city.
City leaders plan to limit the number of liquor stores to three and award the licenses through a lottery designed to ensure fairness and transparency, Mayor Kevin Exley said.
“We wanted it to be fair,” Exley said, noting that applicants must meet strict requirements before being entered into the lottery. Once vetted, the final selections will be made through a blind draw conducted by an independent third party.
The city has not yet begun accepting applications. Exley said the lottery is expected to take place in late winter or early spring, while Planning and Zoning Director Teri Lewis said March is more likely, pending final approval of the application requirements.
Three geographic areas
Under the proposal, Rincon will be divided into three geographic areas, with one liquor store permitted in each. Exley said the cap is intended to prevent oversaturation and improve the likelihood that businesses will succeed.
Lewis said the city is still refining the boundaries but expects the areas to generally cover the northern, central and southern portions of Rincon, based on existing zoning and state regulations.
The northern area would extend from the city’s northern boundary near the railroad tracks by the Rincon YMCA and industrial corridor south to roughly the Fort Howard Road area.
A central area would generally include parcels near the Fort Howard Road and Old Augusta Road intersection, though Lewis said that section could change because of limited parcels that meet zoning and distance requirements.
The southern area would extend from the Fort Howard Road area to the city’s southern boundary near Chimney Road.
Liquor stores would be allowed only in commercial zoning districts — B-1, B-2 and office-commercial — and must comply with state law requiring a minimum distance of 100 yards from schools and churches. The city is not rezoning property to accommodate liquor stores, Lewis said.
Application requirements
Lewis said the city has drafted detailed lottery guidelines that are currently under review by the City Council. To qualify for the lottery, applicants must submit a complete application, including:
- A background check
- A detailed business plan
- A letter from an FDIC-insured financial institution confirming qualification for a loan of at least $500,000 to cover initial inventory
- A letter of intent stating plans to own and operate a liquor store in Rincon
- A commitment letter from a property owner or landlord agreeing to lease space for the proposed location
Incomplete applications will not be accepted, Lewis said.
The city is also considering whether to give preference to local applicants, such as Rincon residents or owners of existing Rincon businesses. Lewis said the specifics of any preference are still under discussion and would require City Council approval before being implemented. She added that if additional liquor store licenses are approved in the future, the city anticipates using the same lottery process.
Timeline and selection process
The City Council is expected to consider final approval of the lottery guidelines, location map and ordinance changes at its final meeting in January, though the date could shift slightly.
If approved, the city would begin accepting applications in early February. Applicants would likely have about 30 days to submit materials before the lottery is conducted.
Once applications are reviewed and deemed complete, a neutral third party — not city staff or elected officials — will conduct the lottery during a public meeting. The city is working with its attorney to identify an independent administrator to avoid any appearance of favoritism.
City officials will not select the license holders, Lewis emphasized.
Store standards and hours
Proposed standards include minimum size requirements, with liquor stores required to have at least 1,500 square feet of showroom space and 250 square feet of storage. Additional space would be required for stores selling beer and wine alongside distilled spirits.
The city is also proposing design standards, including well-lit storefronts and restrictions on window bars and outdoor storage.
Proposed operating hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. While the referendum authorizes distilled spirits sales on Sundays, specific Sunday hours have not yet been finalized and remain under discussion by the City Council.
City officials expect strong interest. Lewis said the city has already compiled a list of about 20 people who previously inquired about opening a liquor store, and several residents attended a recent workshop on the issue.
“This is a process the city has never done before,” Lewis said, describing the effort as an attempt to balance voter intent with fairness, transparency and long-term planning.
