City Council Discusses Liquor Sales at Village Cinemas; Hears From Citizen About Fireworks

The owner and manager of RMC Village Cinemas in Effingham appeared before the Effingham City Council Tuesday, seeking a liquor license to sell beer, wine, margaritas and "adult milkshakes" containing Kahlua at the cinemas.

The proposals is part of other changes designed to keep people coming to the theaters in the wake of declining revenues. Proceeds were down last year and are down so far this year. Luxury seating will be installed, beginning with the second-largest auditorium at the theater complex located in Village Square Mall. The goal is to make moviegoing more of an "experience" or else many will simply watch movies on Hulu.

Commissioner Merv Gillenwater had concerns over how the liquor sales would be policed. A two-drink limit is part of the proposal, but Gillenwater wondered what would be done to keep the drinks from being slipped into the hands of underage movie goers. His other major concern is how to keep the drinks from leaving the movie theater territory and out into the mall.

The proponents suggest sales through the rear window behind the concession stand to make sure purchasers are already in the theater area. People will travel through the theaters to make sure the right people have the right drinks. The drinks would also be sold in certain containers that would let those policing the area know who has the drinks.

The developers have tried sales in Waterloo and South Jacksonville and say they've been well-received, even distributing letters from the mayors of those communities indicating the sales have gone well.

The matter was only for discussion last night.

The Council also heard from local resident Yale Reynolds about fireworks that have occurred well past the 4th of July. 

Reynolds talked about several displays that have gone with one on August 5 the biggest of them all. People in the northeast part of Effingham saw a show that lasted several minutes and could be easily viewed from the interstate. Police Chief Jeff Fuesting said police investigated one such incident and found that the land on which the display was staged is outside the city limits. Fuesting said if an officer sees someone staging such a display within the city, the person will be cited.

Reynolds said he walks the dogs for his parents and said one dog slipped the leash when the fireworks began.