AngeNetta's clears first hurdle to serve beer, wine

Although voters made the restaurant eligible for a license, a school may object.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The owners of AngeNetta's Cafe worked hard to get a liquor issue passed for their restaurant in last week's election, and they appeared to have a lot of support. But Phyllis and Tony Olin never took that support for granted.
Now, even though they are allowed to apply for their liquor license in what was a totally dry city, they still can't take for granted they will be able to serve beer and wine in what they say is an effort to compete with eateries in Canfield and Boardman townships.
Under Ohio law, the Canfield school district will have the opportunity to object to AngeNetta's license because of how close the high school and restaurant are on Cardinal Drive.
The Ohio Department of Liquor Control automatically notifies schools, churches, libraries or parks if an establishment within 500 feet of those public entities applies for a liquor license. Those entities are entitled to object and to request a hearing.
The Olins say they want to serve beer and wine because their customers might go elsewhere for drinks with their dinners. Tony Olin said customers have told him they are going to other restaurants for that reason, and he believes his business is being hurt.
There are no plans to offer carry-out alcoholic beverages, and there will be no hard liquor served, the Olins say.
Phyllis Olin said last week that there will never be a bar at the restaurant.
"That's why we didn't ask for liquor," she said. "Plus, I would have to totally remodel the place to get a drinking establishment. Why would I sacrifice my eating establishment?" she said.
School officials' stance
Before the election, schools Superintendent Dante Zambrini said the school district was researching what options it would have if the issue were to pass.
And last week, school board president Bruce Brocker said he is worried about the idea of the restaurant serving alcohol so close to the school.
He said AngeNetta's is a big gathering spot for people before sporting events at the high school.
"And during halftime, there's nothing to stop people from going over and having drinks and then coming back," he said.
He said he cannot speak for the rest of the board, which has no course of action until it's notified of the liquor application. "But I'm sure we will consider our options. My guess is we would likely pursue something."
Olins' perspective
Tony Olin said that people could still drink at other restaurants or at home and then go to games at the high school.
He said his customers are not the type to "come in and drink like that. We don't have that kind of clientele."
The liquor option, which was in Precinct No. 5, passed with 68 percent of the vote. It was site-specific, meaning only AngeNetta's is eligible for a license.
The Olins needed 126 signatures to put the issue on the ballot for the general election. Phyllis Olin said that once she got the required amount of signatures, she "kept going," just to gauge how much support they might have. She ended up with 250 signatures.
But a gathering Oct. 23 at the restaurant, to which every voter in the precinct was invited along with school and town officials, attracted only about 40 people, she said. She added they tried to have a strong presence at the polls election day.
Tony and Phyllis Olin were in Naples, Fla., where they'd gone to check a condominium they own for damage from Hurricane Wilma and to have a vacation. But their daughter, Angela Briceland, was at the polls all day, handing out information about the restaurant and about their plans for beer and wine only with dinners.
When Briceland called them at 8 p.m. to tell them the issue passed, "We were ecstatic," Phyllis Olin said.