WOW serves first legal drink of liquor since county’s founding in 1892

Local News

May 26, 2011

By David A. Farrell, Item Staff Writer The Picayune Item Picayune Item Thu May 26, 2011, 09:38 AM CDT

PICAYUNE — Two Picayune establishments were awarded liquor-by-the-drink privilege licenses at last week’s City Council session on Tuesday.

One of the two, WOW Cafe & Wingery, 1413 Armand Dr., served the first legal drink of liquor under the city’s new ordinance on Wednesday of last week, a day later, said WOW owner Luke J. Barrilleaux.

The serving of that drink marks the first time that a legal drink of liquor has been served in Pearl River County since the county’s founding in 1892, 119 years ago.

The drink was reportedly served to Picayune businessman A.P. Guizerix, Jr.

Selling beer, wine and liquor-by-the-drink is legal inside the city limits of Picayune, but the county and Poplarville remain bone dry.

Voters in Picayune approved liquor on Nov. 9, and approved beer and light wine sales in 1968.

Barrilleaux said he plans to retrieve the receipt and will probably frame it. He added, “We have had a great response. Business is up.”

The other license issued on May 17 was to the American Legion, 2500 Union School Rd. A spokesperson at the Legion said that establishment has not yet begun serving drinks.

“We are just waiting on our order for the product,” said Wes Clark, Legion commander.

City officials on Wednesday said that another license is pending, for Kobe Grill, Inc., 249 Frontage Rd., a Japanese-style restaurant.

Those seeking local licenses also have to get state licenses from the alcohol and beverage control commission before being able to serve drinks. That takes sometimes up to six weeks. A city license costs $3,000.

WOW Cafe was the first to apply for a license under the new ordinance; the Legion was the second.

City officials on Wednesday said besides Kobe, no other license applications are pending or have been submitted.

So far, only establishments that were in business here, before the liquor-by-the-drink referendum was passed on Nov. 9, have either obtained, or applied for, liquor permits. No new restaurants, who say they plan to serve liquor-by-the-drink, have announced publicly plans to locate here.

Proponents of the referendum said approving the issue would attract new chain restaurants.

So far that has not happened, but it remains a possibility.

A three-member panel has to recommend to the City Council approval of city licensing establishments after the establishments have submitted applications for a permit, and city officials are supposed to make sure the percentages of food and alcohol sold remain within the ratio outlined in the ordinance.

Also, three local establishments were given a special waiver concerning food sales in the ordinance: The American Legion, the VFW and Millbrook Golf and Country Club. That means those three establishments can set up stand-alone bars.

That cannot be done by any other establishment.

WOW has a sports bar venue, specializing in chicken wings and sauces to go on them.

WOW is filled with big-screen televisions. The restaurant chain was founded in Covington, La., and was the brain child of Paul Ballard. By 2008 the chain had grown to 50 stores.

Barrilleaux is the owner of the Picayune franchise. WOW opened here in October, 2007.

Picayune voters on Nov. 9 voted almost three-to-one in favor of the liquor referendum.

Text Only

Local News

PMHS GRADUATION
Picayune Memorial High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Jared Christopher Bates, left, and salutatorian Bryce Austin Warden gave their speeches.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
POPLARVILLE GRADUATION
Poplarville High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Rebecca Starke, left, and salutatorian Meagan Whitworth gave their speeches to the graduating class, parents and friends.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Local man paralyzed by juvenile shooting
Medical personnel were teaching a local man how to swallow again on Saturday after his spinal cord was severed by a .22 caliber bullet, fired by one of three juveniles, on Thursday.

May 26, 2012
Potential bridge replacement fund shortage draws discussion
Despite a lengthy agenda for Pearl River County supervisors Wednesday the board handled many of the items with a straight up and down 5-0 vote.

May 26, 2012
Glade Woods dies
Funeral services for Earl Glade Woods , 75 of Picayune, are Monday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Picayune. Woods passed away on Friday.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
MHP on patrol for holiday
Even though there has been a remarkable reduction in the number of fatalities in Mississippi over the past seven years, last year’s Memorial Day Weekend was particularly deadly.

May 26, 2012
POLICE MEMORIAL
City employees were out at the Picayune Police Department memorial Thursday morning doing some upgrades to it.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
ACCIDENT ACCIDENT — Emergency personnel responded to this accident Thursday morning on South Haugh Avenue.
May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Supervisors support sales tax proposal
The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors unanimously supports District 1 Supervisor Anthony Hales proposal for a 1-percent county sales tax.
Hales had outlined his proposal at two earlier meetings of the board of supervisors and the other four members voiced their support for the idea at Wednesday’s meeting.

May 25, 2012
Lawrence sentenced to 57 months for child porn
Picayune native Clifford Lawrence has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for possession of child pornography.

May 25, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

WOW serves first legal drink of liquor since county’s founding in 1892

Site Map

Contact Us