TEMPLE (July 8, 2009)—The Temple Committee for Economic Growth is pushing for a change that would allow liquor sales in the city and that would remove the requirement that some establishments that sell alcoholic beverages operate as private clubs.

The committee says the move would lure high-end liquor and gourmet food stores to the city, meaning an estimated 300 new jobs and $500,000 more in tax revenue.

"This change is a good thing for us" Temple Mayor Bill Jones said Wednesday.

"It prevents more sales tax leakage from going outside of our community."

But battle lines are already forming and among the opponents are owners of liquor stores in communities such as Morgan’s Point, which is where Temple residents must now go to purchase liquor.

Richard Lewis, owner of the Point Drive-In liquor store in Morgan’s Point says, “No way” to the proposal.

Lewis said if Temple voters were to approve the changes, the measure would almost certainly wipe out his business and would kill all the smaller liquor stores in the area, as well.

Some restaurant and bar owners in Temple said they agree

"I think it would make it more difficult for us to get guests in here" said John Slack, manager of Pignetti's in downtown Temple.

"I guess we would have to bring up our quality a bit to impress more folks and make them feel like they have to spend a little more money here,” he said.

But Jones says the competition could be beneficial.

"It would be a uniform law across the city of Temple,” Jones said, “and everybody would be playing on the same field."