The Collegedale Beer Board recently approved Rite Aid's beer permit request that will allow the retailer to sell beer at its 9413 Apison Pike location.
"This is a store that has never sold beer," said Rite Aid District Manager Jim Foreman. "I think beer sales are really going to increase the store's overall sales."
According to Collegedale City Recorder Cristy Pratt, Tako Yaki has a liquor by the drink permit and Dollar General has an off-premises selling permit, but Rite Aid will be the first Collegedale business near the city's center to sell alcohol. The city has allowed beer sales at Walmart and other establishments annexed into the city like the gas stations along Lee Highway since before the Walmart was built in 2007, she said. The city officially voted to expand beer sales throughout the city in 2009 and passed liquor by the drink legislation in 2010.
Vice Mayor Tim Johnson said the right to drink vote that was passed in 2010 was split fairly evenly with people for and against alcohol, which likely reflects Seventh-day Adventist values that continue in the city, which was founded around Southern Adventist University.
When asked if store management thought it could be difficult to sell beer in Collegedale due to its Seventh-day Adventist roots, Foreman said he did not think it would be a problem.
Collegedale has a population of 8,282 people and the university has an enrollment of approximately 3,000. Only those students who have moved their residence to Collegedale officially are counted in the population. SAU prohibits consumption of alcohol by any students, regardless of their age.
For more information about Collegedale's beer and liquor policies visit www.collegedaletn.gov.