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Last call nears for liquor store applicants

By Ashley Rader

The fate of six liquor store applicants who want to do business in Elizabethton will be decided Thursday night as the City Council decides which three will be awarded city liquor store licenses.

The city accepted applications for liquor store permits from late December until mid-January for any interested individuals who wanted to open a liquor store. The applicants for the liquor store licenses are:

• William B. Armstrong, 1209 Erie Lane, Elizabethton, for Eastside Liquor and Wine, which would open at 1201 19E Bypass;

• Billy Chappell, 733 Harbor Point Drive, Johnson City, for Lighthouse Wine and Liquor, which would be located at 1933 West Elk Ave.;

• Roy Hyder, 378 Willow Spring Road, Elizabethton, for Sunshine Liquor & Wine, Inc., which would be located at 825 N. Lynn Ave.;

• Chris Joker, 2 Haven Lane, Johnson City, for E-Town Spirits, which would be located at 167 Hudson Drive, Suite A-2;

• Carl R. Nidiffer, 1115 Broad St., and Charles G. Bridges, 172 Bridges Lane, Elizabethton, for Doe River Wine and Spirits LLC, which would open at 630 Broad St.; and

• Shane Donald Wilcox, 3801 Brackenwood Ct., Johnson City, for First Round Wine & Spirits, which would open at the Shoppes on Elk on Railroad Street.

During Thursday’s meeting, council will hear from each of the applicants and from the public, with time for both positive and negative comments. Council will then make nominations, discuss those nominated and award each of the three licenses.

Councilman Richard Tester said the decision facing council will be a challenging one.