Local business group sees packaged liquor sales as part of larger to effort to expand business opportunities, create entertainment district & add revenue for Haltom City
HALTOM CITY, TX, August 24, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ — One unusual aspect of the retail liquor business in Texas is that publicly traded companies cannot get licenses to run liquor stores. The local Walmart can only sell beer and wine.
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) believes that this feature of Texas law creates opportunities for Haltom City to have new small businesses. “If enough of Haltom City’s registered voters sign a petition to lift its outdated prohibition on the sale of packaged liquor and permit liquor stores where other retail is allowed, we believe some smaller operators will open liquor stores in the city,” said HUBA Executive Director Drew Weakley.
HUBA supports efforts to allow the sale of packaged liquor as part of the larger effort to promote small business and give Haltom City residents more choices for restaurants and other kinds of services, said Weakley.
“Past efforts to change the liquor laws in Haltom have sputtered, but we believe the time is right and that city leaders will support the petition effort because it is crucial to creating an entertainment district within Haltom City and to bringing in brew pubs and more restaurants,” said HUBA Communications Director Joe Palmer.
Palmer also contends that it does not make sense for Haltom City residents to have to drive to nearby communities to buy liquor and for those cities to get revenues for the sales that could go to Haltom City.
A referendum is required because the original prohibition of the sale of packaged liquor was instituted after citizens approve it. The Haltom City charter does not allow City Council to change an ordinance that was approved by referendum unless the change is approved by the same method. HUBA would like to work with other stakeholders to gather signatures to allow for a referendum.
“HUBA businesses will absolutely support the ongoing efforts to collect signatures so the proposed change can be put before local people to decide,” said Palmer.
About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City’s business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurture small business growth, including automotive businesses, and bring more restaurants including breweries and a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City’s facilities and infrastructure. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Drew Weakley at (682) 310-0591 or by email at HUBAgrp@gmail.com. Visit the group’s Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.
About Haltom City
Haltom City is a medium-sized city between Dallas and Fort Worth in Tarrant County, TX. The city is diverse and majority working class, with a growing population that is approximately 10% Asian-American and 45% Hispanic. Haltom City benefits from being only minutes from both DFW Airport and Downtown Fort Worth, with direct access to major highways including I-820 and SH-121. Small businesses that have historically provided products, services, and jobs to residents included a once thriving automotive industry. The city has seen a decline in small businesses, especially automotive businesses. The city is healthy financially, with median household income growing around 8% in the past year. Haltom City has an opportunity for continued growth through undeveloped land and many vacant buildings, especially in major corridors close to the city’s center. The city has good staff and a city manager who is interested in seeing more businesses and has recently elected several new members to its city council.
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