Boundary stretches from Blue Stage to Morning Fog, First to Third streets
Alcoholic beverage containers must have this logo and the logo of the sponsoring business. The social district allows adults to leave with their drink from the business where they bought it and walk within the district boundaries, but does not allow a customer to leave one business with a drink and go into other businesses.
Andrews – The Andrews Board of Aldermen approved a social district at Thursday’s meeting, and now the town is playing a waiting game.
The social district allows visitors to wander about while carrying a drink, but it’s up to the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission in Raleigh to give the final approval.
Town officials aren’t certain how long that process will take, but are hoping the social district is up and running in time for the summer tourist season. The decision was too late to take effect for Spring Fling last weekend.
The social district map includes the old Blue Stage venue that is being converted into an expanded Hoppy Trout brew pub, the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center, FernCrest Winery, Frankie’s Dog House, Snowbird Mountain Brewery and the Tattered Tartan Pub.
The map includes two blocks of First Street, but not Harold H. Hall Memorial Park and gazebo, which are on federal Tennessee Valley Authority property, and Andrews Valley Rail Tours at the old railroad depot.
Some portions of the map include not what’s there, but what could be there, including disused storefronts being developed as restaurants or activity venues by owners.
Social district hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the week. Beverage containers cannot be glass. The town is assuming responsibility for security, sanitation, enforcement and insurance.
Hannah Johnston owns Homespun Hobbies Bakery & Mercantile off Locust Street. Although her business doesn’t sell alcoholic beverages, she supports the social district and was the only person to speak at Thursday’s public hearing.
The recent closure of the Andrews Walgreens drugstore shows big corporate stores don’t care about Andrews, she said.
“These people care,” she said, gesturing to a half-dozen or so local business owners at the meeting.
“I just sell cakes,” Johnston said, but she is among a “handful of small business trying to make this place great.”
Following unanimous approval by the board of aldermen, a nearly packed audience applauded.
Mayor James Reid said he has heard very little negative about the proposed social district. If opponents “educate theirselves on this topic, you’ll see what this is,” he said.
The social district aims at being an economic boost for downtown Andrews, which has endured some ups and downs in recent years. While the most recent down was the closure of Walgreens, the town has also scored some successes as well, including openings of Morning Fog and DG Market.
The town was also exploring a fall biker rally. However, Reid said that likely won’t happen, this year at least.
The process
Thursday’s public hearing followed a process of several months to establish a “social district” that will allow pedestrians to stroll around parts of downtown while sipping on alcoholic beverages.
“The establishment of a social district has the potential to support economic development, enhance tourist and foster community engagement within the Town of Andrews,” according to the resolution.
The plan sets boundaries, operational guidelines and measures to ensure compliance with laws.
Social districts were made possible after a bill allowing cities and counties to implement social districts passed through the general assembly in September 2021.
The bill was first proposed in May 2021, sponsored by Rep. Timothy Moffat from District 117 in Hendersonville, and later co-sponsored by Rep. Steve Tyson of District 3 in Craven.
The bill received bipartisan support as it moved through committee and was redrafted. The Senate passed House Bill 890 on a 35-7 vote, sending it back to the House for a final vote. There, House members had no debate at all before voting 95-8 in favor of the bill, sending it to then-Gov. Roy Cooper, who signed it into law.
The bill made a number of changes regarding alcohol in the state, but according to sponsors of the bill, the attractive feature of this bill is that it allows for the creation of social districts as an economic vitality booster.
Other areas
As of March 2024, 58 North Carolina municipalities had established social districts, while other towns have delayed adoption because of concerns. One town that rejected a social district was Murphy, whose town council voted down a social district proposal in December 2022.
Public pressure appeared to have made the difference in that effort. Three local residents spoke out against the social district during a public comment, appealing to conservative Christian beliefs about drinking and raising questions about liabilities associated with the district. Many more people packed the council's meeting room to observe the vote.
Then-council member Keisha Dockery, who first brought up the idea of a social district in July 2022, was the lone vote in favor of it. Dockery's proposal received initial interest and support from several council members when first proposed, including suggestions to do a trial run during the September Art Walk.
The Murphy Town Council wound up voting 5-1 against a social district.
Sylva got its social district off the ground in April 2022 as part of a six-month test program. They compared drinking-related incidents in 2022 to 2019, and found no increases whatsoever.
Franklin has also adopted a social district.
Rules are generally similar.
- Drinks must be consumed from the official social district cup received at purchase.
- Visitors may stroll with their beverages within the social district hours – in Andrews from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
- Visitors must check to see if a retailer allows social district drinks before entering the establishment. Participating businesses display a social district sign at the door.
- Cups must be empty before entering another bar or restaurant that serves alcohol.
- No outside alcohol is permitted within the district. All alcoholic beverages must be purchased from establishments located within or contiguous to the district (in specially labeled cups) and must be consumed within the district.
- Upon leaving an establishment where an alcoholic beverage is purchased, the beverage must be consumed or discarded before entering a different business that serves alcohol.
- All alcohol in open containers must be disposed of before exiting the district or entering a vehicle.
- Approved cups cannot be glass or contain more than 16 ounces of beverage.