The operators of a proposed restaurant at a recently vacated building in Flowery Branch were granted a wine, beer and distilled spirits license by the city council at its meeting Thursday.
Keleigh Oxendine is looking to open the Hometown Grill at a building on Hog Mountain Road just south of Spout Springs Road that was recently left by Green's Tavern, which closed just months after temporarily losing its alcoholic beverage license. She says she feels the restaurant will fit in with the surrounding area.
"I think it'll bring the community together," Oxendine said. "There's lots of big real estate properties like Sterling on the Lake and Reunion and all those larger subdivisions where there's really not a family-oriented type place for people to go."
The license was approved unanimously by the council and will now go before state officials for final approval. Oxendine said that coupled with some early construction hurdles mean the restaurant may not open for several months.
She addressed the council before the vote, saying the restaurant would be looking to hire high school students and hold live entertainment.
"We are going to have live music, but it's going to be moreso during the day, nothing late night. We're not staying open until 2:00 (a.m.) like the prior restaurant," Oxendine told the council.
She said the restaurant also hopes to host community events like school spirit nights.
Flowery Branch gets positive audit review
During the meeting, the Flowery Branch City Council also got a positive report on the city's annual audit review.
Wayne Tuck of Walker, Pierce and Tuck, CPA addressed the council, saying that there were several good indicators of the city's budgeting, including an increase in cash in the general fund.
"I'm happy to report that looking at this (audit), there's a lot of positive trends that can be seen here," Tuck said.
Tuck also said that the CPA was able to issue a review with no qualifiers.
