Dear Editor,

I just finished reading the latest issue of Effingham Living and I would like to compliment you and your staff on a job well done.

Regarding the various articles of current and planned development for the county, I found it interesting that one market segment sorely needed for the county was missing. There were many references to the desire to keep Effingham dollars in Effingham County. I certainly don’t disagree with that, but until we get some more upscale restaurants in the county, Effingham dollars slated for a nice evening dinner will continue to go to Chatham County.

What do I mean by upscale? Yes, I am talking about nice restaurants that offer alcohol as a part of their menu and service. This is not to be confused with “beer joints.” I believe there is a huge demand for full service restaurants that offer ambience and a nice dining experience. Many national chains even meet this minimum criterion, such as Ruby Tuesday, Outback, et al. I am not suggesting that people will go there with the thought that they will have to drink, it’s just that serving alcohol is a byproduct of such establishments.

It appears to me that the absence of these type restaurants must be the result of a law or zoning or something of that nature. I have no idea, except that I would like the opportunity to dine closer to home without going to Pooler or Savannah for selections beyond fast food.

In view of the explosive growth of Effingham County, I can’t be the only person to have this thought. Perhaps you could do a story to address this issue and get some additional feedback.

James K. Sanford
Guyton