Franklin’s downtown social district is officially open.
After several months of discussion, planning and preparation, Saturday, June 22 marked a unique day for the town, on which patrons of downtown businesses were legally able to consume alcohol in designated outdoor areas for the first time. The social district opening coincided with multiple large events within the district boundaries throughout the day, and Town Manager Amie Owens said the change went off without a hitch.
“The first weekend went well; there were no incidents involving the social district and any one being disorderly or publicly intoxicated,” Owens said on Monday, June 24. “From discussion with a couple of ABC permittees, patrons were clearly advised about the purchase of the cups and where they could carry them. Signage is in place and very visible. A few of the businesses did not have their signage displayed in their windows but have done so since then. There were 24 cups sold this weekend.”
Stretching along Main Street roughly from Patton Avenue to Porter Street and including parts of Phillips, Iotla and Stewart Streets, the social district allows patrons to purchase alcohol from designated downtown businesses and carry their beverages outdoors in specially marked cups Monday through Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. The district excludes the grassy areas of the three main squares downtown (Clock Tower, Rankin and Gazebo) and the area immediately in front of the courthouse, as these are owned by Macon County and do not permit alcohol.
Among roughly two dozen businesses within district boundaries, six (Lazy Hiker, Rathskeller Coffee Bar & Pub, Gracious Plates on Main, Motor Company Grill, J.R. Chophouse and the Rock House Lodge in Outdoor 76) have been permitted by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to serve alcohol in social district cups. Twelve of the downtown businesses are allowing outside drinks into their premises and six chose to opt out of participating in the social district. Clearly marked signage has been placed to demarcate the district boundaries, as well as near businesses’ entrances/exits informing patrons whether drinks are allowed. From the official start of the social district at noon Saturday, one ABC permittee said patrons were glad to be able to carry their drinks outside.
“The first weekend went very smooth with strong sales all day on Saturday. We had a number of people that came in at noon to be the first customers to purchase their cups and be able to walk within the designated area [of] downtown Franklin,” said Outdoor 76 owner Cory McCall. “We met with staff multiple times leading up to the start of the social district to answer questions and what if scenarios.”
McCall said they provided customers a map to review before purchasing so they could understand where they could take their cups as well as what the basic signage looked like on the streets and in windows of businesses. They also let customers know that not all businesses on Main Street were participating and showed people what the signage would look like for both participating and non-participating businesses.
“All customers were excited to have the freedom to walk around and explore downtown with their adult beverage and hot temperatures,” McCall said.
Alcohol for consumption outdoors in the social district must be sold in special cups bearing the town’s gem-shaped emblem and different-colored stickers corresponding to the business from which they were purchased. The cups sell for $4 each, in addition to the cost of the drink.
Town officials believe the district should provide an economic boost to its businesses, with ABC permittees retaining the entirety of the cups’ revenue. While no detailed economic projections have yet been made, Owens said social districts have been a boon for other towns in the region.
“We’ve looked at Sylva and Brevard most recently, and they’ve been very successful with their programs with the social districts,” said Owens. “It is our hope that, since this is a concept based in economic development, that it will be a boost for the ABC permittees as well as the other businesses downtown just to get people out and about on the weekends and shopping and going to the restaurants.”
With hundreds of people downtown throughout the day for the Phillips Street Market, Macon County Farmers Market and Pickin’ on the Square, Saturday was a fitting start for the downtown social district ordinance. As more patrons become aware of the district’s rules and boundaries, Owens says the town hopes to attract more visitors from around the region.
“We’re very hopeful that it will be something that benefits all of the businesses downtown,” she said. “That’s the main goal, is to improve the economic state of downtown. We understand that a $4 investment in a cup that you can reuse over and over and over is not necessarily the most shrewd model as far as economic development goes, but it’s a start to get people here – to maybe bring in some individuals who haven’t ever been to Franklin before, but are used to social districts in other locations and just to introduce them to the town that way.”
Editor Mia Overton contributed to this report.