Cigar Bar clears first hurdle to serve beer

An amendment to Nolensville’s beer ordinance that could allow a business to derive revenue from a source other than food and still serve brews on premise is moving forward.

On Thursday night, the Nolensville Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the first reading of an ordinance brought about by a new business known as the Cigar Bar.

The wording of the measure dictates that smoke shops and cigar bars can get 65 percent of their revenue from the sale of cigars with 35 percent coming from beer sales. If they exceed their allotted alcohol sales, the town’s Beer Board can pull their beer permit. The board will demand quarterly revenue reports from the business to make sure those percentages are being followed.

Other parts of the proposal deal with adequate ventilation of the area, cigars must average a sale price of $3 each, no one under age 21 can enter the establishment and no cigarette smoking will be allowed.

Aldermen Brian Snyder, Jason Patrick and Larry Felts voted in favor of the new ordinance with Mayor Jimmy Alexander and Alderman Beth Lothers casting “no” votes. The ordinance still has to go through a public hearing and a final reading before it can go into the books.