Fresh Loaf

Lovers of gourmet food and booze rejoice: That quaint store where you could buy luxurious-sounding grub — but not wine — may soon be able to legally stock booze.

Yesterday, the Atlanta City Council passed legislation that would allow such gourmet food shops as the Cabbagetown Market and the Mercantile on DeKalb Avenue to stock beer, wine and malt beverages. The legislation, which essentially now gives those and similar stores a legal classification in the city’s code, was penned by Councilmember Natalyn Archibong and passed 8-2. Such stores won’t be allowed to sell lotto tickets or “other games of chance,” gasoline or tobacco. They also can’t operate drive-thru windows or cash checks. But bring on the booze!

If she chooses, Mayor Shirley Franklin has eight days to veto the bill.

To peruse Archibong’s bill, laden with good ole fashioned legalese and multiple uses of “whereas,” click here. Keep in mind that an amendment — supposedly a minor tweak — was added to the legislation. I’m waiting on Archibong’s staff to return a call and clarify what in entails.

UPDATE: Here’s the “specialty food store” legislation as passed in Monday’s council meeting. I received some emails from folks who said they had problems opening the file I posted yesterday. If this one fails to open, shoot me an email and I’ll send it to you directly.

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City of Atlanta Councilmember Carla Smith is inviting all who possess old televisions and electronic devices — what are these VCRs of which they speak? — to haul their goods down to Turner Field on April 26 and bid them adieu. As part of its Earth Day celebration, the city will be accepting all things electronic — from keyboards to stereo speakers — from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Last year, the city collected 75,583 pounds of electronic items during the one-day e-waste recycling event. First 100 folks get a Best Buy gift card. Seriously.

That same day from 9 a.m.-noon, City Council member Natalyn Archibong and residents of her district, which includes communities from East Lake to Cabbagetown, will scour the area and look for discarded tires. Since 2002, the annual event has removed more than 6,000 tires from vacant lots, waterways and the roadside. If you’re interested, head to 815 Old Flat Shoals Rd. to participate. Residents who live in the district and wish to dispose of old tires can also do so free of charge at the location.

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