Voters approve Sunday alcohol sales in Gentry

February 10, 2021 at 8:14 a.m.

by Mike Jones

Signage was posted, prior to the election, inside C and J Liquor, located at 129 Fowler St., Suite A, in Gentry. A special election on Feb. 9 determined whether to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption on Sundays between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight within the city of Gentry. The City Council on Sept. 8 voted to add the ballot initiative to the Nov. 3 general election following a petition by Charles and Jerah Jech to have the initiative added to the ballot. The measure was submitted too late for the Nov. 3 ballot and was moved to December. When that date would not work, the election was scheduled for Feb. 9. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/David Gottschalk)
Signage was posted, prior to the election, inside C and J Liquor, located at 129 Fowler St., Suite A, in Gentry. A special election on Feb. 9 determined whether to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption on Sundays between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight within the city of Gentry. The City Council on Sept. 8 voted to add the ballot initiative to the Nov. 3 general election following a petition by Charles and Jerah Jech to have the initiative added to the ballot. The measure was submitted too late for the Nov. 3 ballot and was moved to December. When that date would not work, the election was scheduled for Feb. 9. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/David Gottschalk)

GENTRY — Voters in Gentry approved allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays in a special election held Tuesday.

The vote was 101 for (66%) to 52 against (34%), according to the final, but unofficial results from the Benton County Election Commission.

The Gentry special election was to determine whether alcoholic beverages may be sold on Sundays in the city for off-premises consumption. Sunday hours in which alcohol may be sold will be from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Gentry will be the only city on the county's west side to offer Sunday alcohol sales. Five businesses — including a liquor store — sell alcohol in the city. Springdale and Tontitown are the only two in Washington County to offer Sunday sales for off-premises consumption.

Gentry joins a small group of Benton County cities whose residents have approved Sunday alcohol sales. Sunday sales of alcohol began Dec. 13 in Garfield and Pea Ridge. Avoca started Sunday sales in July 2017.