Calvary Way Community Church addresses council about alcohol sales

The members of Calvary Way Community Church packed out the Perry City Council meeting on Tuesday evening with their concerns opposing to the authorizing of the sale of beer and wine at Schultze’s.

Schultze’s Old Fashioned Soda Shop is located at 757 Carroll Street in Perry. Owning a restaurant was owner Eric Schultz’s dream, which first started out as only an ice cream shop. The shop is now a restaurant serving burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries and still their signature ice creams. Mr. Schultz was not present in the meeting; however, Lauren Schultz, his wife was present to address mayor and council about their application an for alcohol license.

Mrs. Schultz expressed how when it was not the best timing due to COVID-19 and it can be tough in the restaurant industry. They wanted to find new ways to make ends meet and find a new way to serve the community.

“The community and city are based on its businesses and what they can bring through offerings and tax base to the city,” expressed Schultz.

The Schultzes saw the draw to downtown Perry after the last Grub Crawl. “We saw all the people coming to the downtown establishments drinking,” Schultz stated, “especially with the Perry law that you can use an open container throughout the restaurant downtown district.”

Schultz said that they wanted to provide customers with the opportunity to have a beer with their burger. “That’s why we applied to just have the beer and wine license,” she stated to the council.

During the public hearing, when Mayor Randall Walker asked if there was anyone present to oppose to this application, several members, along with Senior Pastor Les Albritton of Calvary Way Community Church, approached the podium with reasoning for their oppositions.

“And the people that you see seated all around here this evening,” stated Pastor Albritton, “most of them have been with this church the full entirety of its beginning.

Calvary Way Community Church has an adjoining wall to the soda shop. The church has been in the city of Perry for 15 years. Albritton said that they have fed and clothed the less fortunate and have been a resource for people who suffer from addiction, through the deliverance ministry that it offers there.

“Many have been bound and held captive by alcohol,” Albritton expressed. “We have seen the painful effects of alcohol in the lives of many people, including those in our city, even those in our church.”

Albritton quoted several Scriptures regarding the severity of authorizing the local soda shop to sell beer and wine.

The pastor, along with other members, stated incidents about vandalism and the throwing of beer cans and trash on their property in the past. “I have spent much time picking up beer cans, sweeping up cigarette butts and trash,” Albritton stated.

There are other churches in the downtown district of Perry that are in close proximity of a restaurant that sells alcohol such as the Swanson. However, Albritton expressed how the United Methodist church is not adjoined to the Swanson; it is across the street.

Albritton addressed to mayor and council that this was a different case in the alcohol pendulum. “How far will you let the alcohol pendulum swing in this city?” he asked the council. “Consider the town that you want to build.”

Albritton also expressed to the Schultzes, in his opposition, that the church was not against their business. “We’re just asking you to continue your good business without serving alcohol,” he said.

Melissa Powell, a member of Calvary Way, who once served for the Perry Police Department for 20 years, also expressed her concerns for her kids and the other kids of the church if the application was approved.

Mayor Walker stated to council members that the request could be voted on that evening.

Council member Darryl Albritton stated, “I’m ready to vote,” voting against the application. Council member Willie King voted to approve the motion. Based on the votes from the council members the motion on the application was approved.

The second reading of the ordinance for the rezoning request from Bryant Engineering and three resolutions for consideration and adoption were approved unanimously.

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