My husband Brendan, and I have worked incredibly hard to create a beautiful community park at The Village Garden. We are (ONLY) seeking to acquire a basic Beer & Wine License as a complimentary use, so our customers can enjoy a refreshing beverage with their meal if they so choose. We are (NOT) applying for a Liquor License.

Beer & Wine is essential for us to be able to compete with other local restaurants who are (all) able to provide this basic service. By not allowing us to serve beer & wine, we have been losing 1/3 of our potential revenue for over 3 YEARS, and our small business is suffering. Like many businesses we have been hit very hard financially after years of trying to survive Covid. The pandemic brought the world to a stop only 1YR after opening. Please voice your support to the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners to approve our license!

(The Facts:)
 

1.) Precedent: This property has (ALWAYS) had a Beer & Wine License. Even a liquor license at one point. The property has also (ALWAYS) been a (COMMERCIAL) Property, on a Commercial Corner.
 

2.) Many of our favorite local spots back into residential areas all along the same A1A Corridor. Such as: Black Fly, Candlelight, Odd Birds, Gypsy Cab, The Beacon, Mojos Tacos, GAS, Ospreys. Proving it to be a compatible concept & design.
 

3.) We meet (ALL) of the necessary Code Requirements to have this license.
 

4.) We had (100%) APPROVAL from the Planning & Zoning Board when we first applied. However, a small handful of disgruntled neighbors appealed.
 

5.) My husband Brendan, and I are the 1ST people & small business to have a Beer & Wine license denied when we meet all of the code requirements.

This is clear Bias & Negligence. The only other incident was in 2007 over environmental concerns over nesting turtles.
 

6.) We have reached out to the St. John’s County Sheriff's Department and it was confirmed through numerous traffic studies & data that there is (NO) Safety or Traffic issue currently, or would there be by acquiring a Beer & Wine License.

7.) There is also no study that proves that a Beer & Wine License will increase traffic.
 

8.) We close at (8PM) when it is still light outside.Beer & Wine will (ONLY) be served out of our main building through the Good Karma Cafe Coffee Shop.
 

9.) MYTH: This License will not determine whether or not people are allowed to drink alcohol at the park. Patrons are currently legally bringing in their own alcohol: Taking away business revenue, tax revenue and regulation.
 

10.) By not having a license I can not responsibly monitor how much patrons are consuming or what strength the alcohol is they are drinking.
 

11.) Our business neighbor, Anastasia Diner did (not) meet all the requirements for a beer & wine license, yet they still received one. People are walking next door, purchasing alcohol and bringing it back.
 

12.) We are located directly across the street from an ABC Liquor store that has been there for many years. Having beer & wine is not new to the area.
 

13.) Our other business neighbor, Les Petite Pleasures also serves beer & wine.
 

14.) We are not a bar, we are a family restaurant with an impeccable reputation. Much like Beachcombers, we also have a large family friendly play area. They received their liquor license within this same time frame, and they are also close to a neighborhood.

15.) The Board of Commissioners asked us to prove ourselves first, and we have continued to do so year after year. We have done everything they have asked of us, and have more than fairly earned this license.
 

My husband and I have invested over $1,000,000 into this neighborhood, and our local community. Only to be denied 2XS for a basic Beer & Wine License, causing us to lose vital revenue over the past 3YRS. All on top of being hit by Covid shortly after opening the park. Our investment deserves to be respected with the ability to fairly compete in order for this project to thrive. Please ask the St. John’s County Commissioners to support local small businesses! Grant our Beer & Wine License. 

Thank you all so much for your unwavering love & support for The Village Garden, it truly means the world to use and gives me hope! Lets show what local love can accomplish!

Please email each individual Commissioner (separately), by just copying and pasting your letter. Title Line: "I Support The Village Garden Beer & Wine License"

Commissioner Emails:

Chair Henry Dean: bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us

Jeremiah Blocker: bcc4jblocker@sjcfl.us

Paul Waldron: bcc3pwaldron@sjcfl.us

Sarah S. Arnold: bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us

Vice Chair Christian Whitehurst: bcc1cwhitehurst@sjcfl.us