Alcohol-serving restaurant game legislation to change again

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by Amanda Harnocz

Reporter

Tallmadge -- City officials are still working on legislation that would ban games of skill or chance in restaurants that serve alcohol in Tallmadge.

The latest proposed change is that the legislation would only allow a pool table, or game of skill or chance, in a bar area, according to Mayor Christopher Grimm.

The earlier proposal by the mayor was to completely ban games of skill or chance from restaurants that serve alcohol, unless grandfathered in.

There may be a calculation involved where a game will only be allowed if there is a certain square-footage available in the bar area of the restaurant, he said.

Law Director Penny Taylor said the city plans to uphold all of the state definitions of games of skill or chance no matter how the proposed legislation turns out.

"For decades Tallmadge restaurants were put at a competitive disadvantage due to the their inability to provide alcoholic beverages with a meal," Chamber Executive Director Mary Cea stated in a letter to Council.

Cea urged Council to consider the repercussions of banning games in alcohol-serving establishments.

"[The Chamber of Commerce] feels video games, dart boards, trivia games and other arcade-style games should be allowed as long as the restaurant meets the current requirements with respect to percentage of square footage allowed for the tavern area," she said.

A public hearing on the legislation will have a continuation during Council's May 8 meeting at 7 p.m.

Miguel Castro, the owner of the new Mexican restaurant on 498 South Ave., does not plan on putting any type of games of skill or chance in his restaurant.

The restaurant is still waiting for its liquor license to be approved, he said.

With construction inside of the restaurant wrapping up in a few weeks, Castro said he hopes to be open by May 5.

E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3911