Story by Destinee Marking, Staff writer
The Paducah City Commission recently approved an amendment that adds microbreweries to the list of facilities that can sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays.
Pam Spencer, public information officer for Paducah, Kentucky, said the amendment was approved by the City Commission March 21 and officially went into effect March 24.
“The amendment allows microbreweries to sell malt beverages by the drink and package on Sundays from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.,” Spencer said.
Microbreweries are independently-owned breweries that produce beers to sell locally.
Discussion regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays is not new for the city of Paducah.
“Paducah amended its ordinance in November 2005 to provide for the sale of distilled spirits, wine and malt beverages by the drink on Sundays,” Spencer said. “Discussion before the City Commission began in 2003.”
Out of the two microbreweries in Paducah, Spencer said one was already eligible to sell alcoholic beverages because it holds a restaurant license, while the other only sells alcohol, so it can now make Sunday one of its business days.
Todd Blume, owner of Paducah Beer Werks, said the new amendment will not affect his facility because of the restaurant license it already holds, but he said he is now able to sell growlers – or jugs of beer – in packages.
Blume’s brewpub is not currently open on Sundays, and he said he does not plan on changing, but he does appreciate the option.
“I think it’s a great move because it’s allowing us to grow without being restricted by laws,” Blume said.
The other microbrewery, Dry Ground Brewing Company, is taking advantage of the amendment.
Cory Greene, tap room manager at Dry Ground Brewing Company, said the facility will now open on Sundays.
“We’ve said since the beginning that if the law changed, we would open on Sundays,” Greene said.
Greene said not much is open on Sundays in the area, so he expects a decent amount of business.
“It’s definitely something that needed to happen when you have counties around us going ‘wet,’” Greene said. “It’s a sign of the times and we need to catch up.”