Future of sports bar on site of former Wings Cafe could hinge on alcohol license

The Macon-Bibb County Commission could put plans for a new sports bar in a bind by preventing it from selling beer and liquor.

The County Commission is expected to vote for a second time Tuesday on whether to deny granting an alcohol license for ESPOM Sports Bar & Grill. The sports bar would be in the same venue as the former Wings Cafe, which was shut down following a December 2014 gang shooting that left three people dead and others injured.

Since then, renovations have been made on the property, as the owner prepared to repurpose the building. The property at 2822 Bloomfield Drive is still primarily owned by Young K. “Tom” Kim, who also operated Wings Cafe, but there is a different tenant for the sports bar, Sheriff David Davis has said.

In a close vote Nov. 6, commissioners initially denied the license before re-voting to table the measure.

The alcohol license applicant would be able to request a public hearing if the license is not granted.

A resolution says not allowing the ESPOM sports bar to sell liquor is in the public’s best interest.

“This resolution will benefit and promote the health, safety, morals and welfare of the citizens of Macon-Bibb County,” the measure says.

The sheriff has recommended approving the license, but he said his deputies would monitor the new business to see if some of the same problems that plagued Wings Cafe arise again.

The County Commission did deny an alcohol license renewal earlier this year after deputies responded to numerous calls at the M&M Grocery convenience store on Montpelier Avenue.

Roundabout support

Also Tuesday, the County Commission will consider supporting a roundabout at the six-lane divided highway where Pio Nono Avenue, Broadway and Houston Avenue merge and flow into Houston Road.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is proposing building a multilane roundabout near the intersection, which is a major artery to Robins Air Force Base. Macon-Bibb would cover the lighting and landscaping costs if the commission approves the agreement Tuesday.

County Engineer David Fortson says although the Seven Bridges area is not one of the most dangerous intersections in Macon-Bibb, the proposed design should reduce traffic speeds.

“The safety benefits of roundabouts come about by converting right angle or head-on crashes into angle crashes, which are normally less severe than the other kinds,” Fortson said in an email. “They also slow down motorists traveling through an intersection. That is why GDOT is considering this change.”

But a multilane roundabout could present a challenge to some motorists. The other roundabouts built in Macon in recent years are single lanes.

“I think there have been more instances of multilane roundabout failures than single lane roundabout failures,” Fortson said of roundabouts in other cities and overseas. “However, this one seems to be well designed. I believe drivers who use it regularly should not have any problem using it.

“It will be more challenging for infrequent users of the road, but I believe proper signage and lighting should provide proper guidance for all motorists,” he added.

Between 2011-2015, there were seven fatalities around Seven Bridges. Among them were two pedestrians killed and four other fatalities from car accidents that could be attributed to high speed, according to the DOT study.

The roundabout would also address some of the safety concerns with people walking or bicycling around the intersection.

A pedestrian crossing would be installed at each road, along with flashing beacons that would indicate where a pedestrian is.

The state agency also plans to seek federal money to pay for the roundabout, although a traffic engineer said last week he believes there is a good chance the funding will be approved.

A key feature of the design is that it would cut off Houston Avenue from the roundabout. Instead, Houston Avenue would connect with Broadway just north of the intersection. The design also would allow traffic moving south on Pio Nono to flow directly into Houston Road without going through the roundabout.

This story was originally published November 20, 2017 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Future of sports bar on site of former Wings Cafe could hinge on alcohol license."