CALCUTTA - Calcutta residents are more interested in restaurants as opposed to bars, as far as the sale of alcohol is concerned, according to St. Clair Township Trustee James Hall. Hall said that in casual conversation with area residents most people stated they would like to see restaurants like Olive Garden, Red Lobster or Applebees move to the area if more liquor licenses are approved.

Unfortunately, Olive Garden and Red Lobster won't be coming to Calcutta anytime soon. St. Clair Township Trustee Robert Swickard said the area does not meet the demographic for those types of restaurants. "We are B-market, which means we could get restaurants like Rockne's, or Quaker Steak and Lube," he said. Swickard did state that the township hopes to entice restaurants like Rockne's and Quaker Steak and Lube to the area because revenues generated through those restaurants would support the township.

Hall said having a restaurant like Applebees would help create new jobs as well as generating revenue, and that it could also generate more business coming to area as well. Hall also said that people who visit those types of restaurants are generally looking to have a good meal, not get drunk. But, if those restaurants did come to the area they would need to have their own site-specific liquor license passed, he said.

For now voters must decide on the local options available on the ballot next month. These options include the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages (including Sundays) for El Paso Mexican Grille located in the Dunham Plaza on state Route 170, Glenmoor Superette (including Sundays) located on Y & O Road, and Sunday sales of beer, wine and mixed beverages for Route 170 Drive Thru.

Right now it is difficult to tell if the liquor license will pass or fail at the election. Up until last year voters rejected liquor licenses for businesses. Both Swickard and Hall expressed surprise that last year's liquor licenses passed the election. "You can't figure out election cycles," Swickard said.

Hall said he is not sure if the licenses will pass as readily as they did last election, though it is hard to judge. "I think it will be more difficult to pass this time. We were kind of surprised that it passed last year," he said.

However, as demographics change, voting changes as well. "We went back through the census information to see the average age," Swickard said. With a younger voting population, issues such as alcohol sales may pass easier than they did before. "People are more tolerant than they were 20 years ago," he added.

But that doesn't mean that anything goes. Swickard said the trustees would be totally opposed to anything resembling a bar. "The people have a choice on those and I don't think that is something that would pass," he said.

Hall said that during conversations with local residents many expressed concerns about bars. "They don't want to see a bar on every corner," he said. Hall added that the El Paso Mexican Grille stands a good chance of passing the election because it is a sit-down restaurant.

According to Swickard, voters should keep in mind that a limited number of licenses are available. "If people are looking for an Applebees to come, there are only allowed to be 8 eat-in licenses. Pick and choose what you want," he said. Swickard also emphasized that voters should educate themselves about the site-specific liquor licenses, as well as the place requesting a license.

Hall said that voters who are against any type of alcohol issue typically feel that it would cause an increase in crime. But voters shouldn't necessarily worry, St. Clair Township Police Chief Don Hyatt said. According to Hyatt the police department has not seen any type of increase in crime since previous liquor licenses have been passed and doesn't anticipate an increase if these issues are passed.

In fact, Hyatt said the tax revenue generated by alcohol sales would benefit the police department, decreasing the need for a police levy to be placed on the ballot. "I'm not so certain that (a police levy) would pass so however we can get money we need to get it," he said. Hyatt did state that he was not advocating illicit business of any manner. "But a business that sells liquor is not going to increase our criminal activity, in my opinion," he said. Furthermore, Hyatt added that most criminal activity in the area is centered around narcotics, not alcohol.

Hall expressed the same sentiments as Hyatt. "It is not going to get to the point where it is actually creating havoc for the police department," he said.

But, both Hall and Swickard agreed that in the end, it's up to the voters.