The covid pandemic may be over, but it could soon claim another victim – this time, an Evans business.
Stay Social Tap + Table announced on Facebook that it faces revocation of its alcohol license, a move that could put it out of business. Owner, Renee Hajek received the notification from the Columbia County Development Services Division on Sept. 6 and has requested a hearing with the county commissioners scheduled for this evening.
Stay opened in August 2020 at 7025 Evans Town Center Blvd., offering customers a unique venue where they can pour their own beers and wines from taps along the walls. The restaurant serves a variety of tapas-style small plate offerings, hosts game nights, and often features local musicians.
According to the Columbia County code, to retain its license to serve alcohol, at least 50 percent of the revenues must come from food sales. In its letter, the county says Stay has failed to do that.
But according to the business’s Facebook post, this is only because the county chose to judge it from its inception during the pandemic when food sales failed by one percentage point to reach half of the volume of sales.
The business feels it is being unjustly penalized for staying open during the pandemic when other businesses closed. In the post, the company claims that other businesses are judged with a calendar year starting in January. It further claims that after those first four months of reduced customer capacity, it has met the required 50 percent in food sales.
The hearing on the matter will take place at 6 p.m. this evening in the Evans Government Center Complex, 630 Ronald Reagan Dr., in the auditorium of Building A. The public can attend the meeting, and Stay is hoping to have the support of some of its loyal customers.
