The Emory Wheel gets reaction from area liquor store owners about a potential lifting of the Sunday sales ban in DeKalb County…

Ricky Ram, owner of Rocky’s Package Store located on Briarcliff Road, and Decatur Package Store owner Herb Cherrick said that the increase in alcohol sales will not outweigh the expenses necessary to keep stores open on Sundays because the legislation spreads out profits over six days and increases overhead costs. Ram, who said that many Emory students visit his store, during the academic year, explained that although there will likely be a large spike in revenues during the first weekend of each semester of the 2011-2012 school year, the increase does not justify an entire year of keeping the store open.

…“As a citizen, it makes sense, but as a business owner, it’s tough because I think it’s a fallacy to think that your business is going to grow by now being open on Sundays,” Cherrick said. He compared the situation to the introduction of the lottery when the first six months yield a short-term spike in revenue followed by a return to pre-Sunday sales level.

With much of his clientele inside Decatur-proper, Mr. Cherrick’s situation seems particularly difficult.  New Sunday sales are one thing, but if DeKalb opted not to allow Sunday sales, while Decatur did, that really seems like it would have the potential of cutting into his bottom-line.