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6/18/07 - A group of Mesquite residents believe the solution to grocery stores leaving the city lies in a reversal of the city’s prohibition of beer and wine sales for off-site consumption.

The city of 136,000 residents does not allow the sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption. Meanwhile, the neighboring cities of Balch Springs, Dallas and Garland have passed legislation which allows such business.

In many situations, a store could close and relocate less than a mile away and realize a benefit.

The Mesquite committee of residents and business leaders, called Save Our Stores, aim to balance Mesquite’s competitive advantage by getting a proposition on the Nov. 6 ballot which would provide for the sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption.

A second proposal would end the Unicard system in place, which is employed by restaurants as a means to sell alcohol in bars.

“A group of folks got together and the formation was folks who were concerned,” said Greg Noschese, co-chair of the committee with James Folks. “What we’re having is our stores seeing a significant revenue loss to surrounding stores.” Beer and wine has never been sold in Mesquite. A proposal on beer and wine sales for off-site consumption has never been presented to voters, according to Mesquite Mayor Mike Anderson.

The committee believes alcohol sales could be the fix to save stores and bring others back to Mesquite.

“We are scared of the stores closing,” said Anderson, who is not a member of the committee. “We’re also scared of restaurants closing.”

Anderson admits he has been advised to steer away from the use of the word “scared” for the word “concerned,” but indicates scared may be more accurate.

He points to a situation in an area bordered by U.S. 80 and Interstate-30 and Interstate-635 and Belt Line Road.

“That is the No. 1 densest area in Mesquite,” Anderson said. “We used to have three grocery stores in that area. We now have one. I’m hearing there are two other stores in jeopardy of closing this summer. As a council, we are concerned.”

Because only a vote of the residents will allow beer and wine sales for off-site consumption, the city council is taking the stance to let their constituents decide.

“The city council absolutely has nothing to do with it,” Anderson said. “The committee is about people who choose to have this election take place.”

The proposal to place the items on the November ballot is in its beginning. A committee has been created and a treasurer designated. An application with 10 signatures has been completed but cannot be filed until legal notice is given and an affidavit provided. Upon filing the application, the committee will have 60 days to circulate petitions to gather 7,584 valid voter signatures. If the signatures were collected by Sept. 5, the measures would be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Darlene McCurry, a resident of Mesquite since 1965, is adamantly against the proposal. She spoke to the city council last week asking for their support.

“I’ve heard if it is not passed, the major grocery stores would pull out of Mesquite,” McCurry said. “If you think the revenue will improve the city, just look at Balch Springs. I urge you to get behind the citizens and stop this from passing.”

The Mesquite Firefighters Association and the Mesquite Police Association have both supported the committee. Jeff Dillon, president of the Mesquite Firefighters Association, indicates stores are leaving Mesquite and voter approval may give the city a tool to stop the migration of stores to neighboring towns.

McCurry may represent a portion of the residents which will vote in the election if it reaches the ballot. She’s against the proposal and made a point to indicate she was against the sale of beer at the inaugural Real. Texas. Festival.

The sales tax from beer and wine may be the tool the city needs to keep services balanced. Dillon mentions the rising costs of gasoline, health care, concrete and other items as swelling costs for city government.

“We have an increase in costs each year,” Anderson said. “When sales tax begins to flatten, it won’t be cheaper to live in Mesquite.

“I’m very scared about the election. I’m also scared about the closing of grocery stores. This is going to be a very difficult decision for the community.”

Since 2005, both Balch Springs and Garland voters have approved beer and wine sales for off-site consumption and have listed the private club requirement for restaurants to sell alcohol.

There are certain instances where grocery stores pulled out of not only Mesquite. Where a Food Lion store once operated in northeast Mesquite on Galloway Avenue, a church now operates. Food Lion pulled out of Texas, not only Mesquite. Other stores, like Albertson’s and Minyard’s, have closed stores in the city while other locations in neighboring towns remain in operation.

“The grocery industry itself has suffered from consolidation,” Noschese said. “Compounding the issue in Mesquite is the number of surrounding cities which have gone to beer and wine sales.”

An example is the Mesquite Mal-Mart location which is showing lower sales numbers than Wal-Mart locations on the borders of Mesquite in towns with beer and wine sales approved for off-site consumption.

“I see this as nothing but a positive for Mesquite’s economic future,” Noschese said. “This is one way for Mesquite to continue to be competitive. I think this is something essential for Mesquite.”

Source - The Mesquite News