HomeMy WebLinkAboutApplebee's Sunday Beer Sales.pdfCorey D. Barnard, General Manager
Applebee's, Rexburg
975 University Blvd
Rexburg, ldaho 83440
February 10,2015
Honorable Mayor Richard S Woodland and City Council
35 N l't East
Rexburg, Idaho 83440
RE: Beer and Wine on Sunday Ordinance
Dear Mayor and City Council,
I applaud you for your decision to review the beer and wine sales ordinance on Sunday within the
city-limits. The outcome of this decision could lead to an unprecedented increase in goodwill and
economic development for our community.
I respectfully urge you to consider a city ordinance allowing the sale of beer and wine on Sunday.
My two concems focus on (1) the ability for local restaurants to provide quality guest service
consistent with industry standards (regionally, nationally, and internationally) and (2) increasing
tourist and visitation dollars to our community as a whole.
A small percentage of people in our community and most tourists and visitors to our community
are dismayed and some are very upset that Applebee's cannot sell beer and wine on Sunday.
More than 50o% of our Sunday guests who intended to have beer and wine with their meal leave
without eating, some without paying after they ordered food, when they found out that we don't
serve beer and wine on Sunday. Of those guests that stay, many complain that they are unhappy
with their dining experience, due to lack of beer and wine, and vow to never come back to
Rexburg.
One group of guests that are always upset about the absence of beer and wine on Sunday, are the
gr.ri on bus tours that come through Rexburg. Sundays are a regular stop for these bus tours for
!.r.rtr who are taking part in the Greater Yellowstone Experience. They are mostly Canadian and
French guests. They think it is unbelievable that they cannot have a glass of wine with their pasta.
In turn, Applebee's and the City of Rexburg are perceived as unwelcoming to our guests. Other
bus tours will not stop in Rexburg until we can offer beer and wine on Sunday.
Applebee's loses and there is nothing that we could have done to make these guests happy' Other
resiaurant chains understand this issue and choose not to enter into Rexburg for this reason. It is a
loss for our community to have tourists and visitors leaving our area not wanting to come back to
Rexburg. There is absolutely something we (the community) can do about this'
The fulltime enrollment for BYU-I recently surpassed all other institutions of higher education in
Idaho, yet we only have one casual dining restaurant and three hotels supported by any national
advertiiing. Compare those numbers with Pocatello or Boise; put together, they have hundreds of
restaurants and hotels. Rexburg easily loses five to ten times what we take in (in the hospitality
and tourism markets) to Idaho Falls and Bonneville County due to the limited services available
in our city. Recently, Rexburg has done a great job in attracting development into the o'Sakota"
property and the area north of town (where the Super Wal-Mart will be located). Beer and wine
sales on Sunday will only strengthen that future development and help this community begin to
take back the tourism and hospitality market from Bonneville County.
Finally, we can remain true to our wonderful heritage in our city of "America's Family
Community" while being much more welcoming to our visitors and guests and keeping business
revenue in Madison County.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this letter as well as your attention to the well being
of our community. It is an honor to operate a successful business in our fine community.
General Manager
Applebee's, Rexburg