Buffalo Wild Wings to appear on ballot for Sunday liquor sale permit

Patrons+at+Buffalo+Wild+Wings+in+downtown+Kent+watch+the+new+locations+big+screen+televisions+above+the+bar+on+Saturday%2C+April+6.+Photo+by+Shane+Flanigan.

Shane Flanigan

Patrons at Buffalo Wild Wings in downtown Kent watch the new location’s big screen televisions above the bar on Saturday, April 6. Photo by Shane Flanigan.

Kelli Fitzpatrick

Buffalo Wild Wings will take the final step in acquiring a Sunday liquor sale permit by appearing on Tuesday’s ballot for voters in Ward 5, Precinct A.

A local precinct vote is required to obtain a permit for Sunday sales of liquor, said Matt Mullins, public information officer for the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.

Under Ohio law, no mixed beverages or liquor may be sold on Sunday without the necessary permit.

Information on voting

Voters in Kent city ward 5, precinct A, will vote on the issue: “Shall the sale of spirituous liquor be permitted … on Sunday between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight by … Buffalo Wild Wings?”

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.

(Source: Portage County Board of Elections).

Buffalo Wild Wings owner Matthew Pipoly said his business is trying to regain a permit it had before relocating from Franklin Avenue to its current East Main Street location.

Pipoly said he was notified in early August that his restaurant no longer had the necessary permit after moving in April. Pipoly said he and his helpers collected more than 100 signatures to appear on the ballot.

“It was a big rush,” he said. “People were very receptive. For the most part, people are like, ‘Heck yeah, why not?’ ”

Ward 5 Councilwoman Heidi Shaffer said she supports the ballot measure, though she cannot vote on it because she lives in precinct B.

“Restaurants really need to have alcohol sales to stay in business,” Shaffer said. “If it’s important to that business, it’s important to downtown and its vitality.”

Laziza is another business in Ward 5 that is permitted to Sunday liquor sales. Shaffer said the restaurant acquired the permit to cater to wedding parties.

Buffalo Wild Wings could still sell wine and beer on Sunday without the D6 permit.

Contact Kelli Fitzpatrick at [email protected].