DAY CARES, LIQUOR: THERE MAY BE OTHER OPTIONS

Should a restaurant that serves liquor be permitted to locate next to a day care? That has been an issue for the Cape Girardeau City Council.

A new restaurant and bar, Show Me's, is opening at 1751 Independence. That was unpleasant news to Patty Turner, who owns Friends Forever Preschool at 1749 Independence, which is behind the restaurant. The two businesses share a parking lot. Friends Forever serves about 65 children.

A city ordinance limits liquor sales within 200 feet of a school, church or building of worship. But the City Council says a day care center does not qualify as a school. By that strict definition, some councilmen may feel the ordinance gave them no choice but to approve the restaurant's request for a liquor license.

But if councilmen feel a day care should be considered a school, they should change the ordinance. Unfortunately, such a change wouldn't help in this situation, because the liquor license is already approved. But it would avoid future conflicts.

The owner of the day care said she was not aware of the new restaurant's liquor-license application before it was approved earlier by the council. A convenience store across Caruthers Street from both the day-care center and the new restaurant was selling beer and liquor before the day care opened.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department keeps close watch on businesses with liquor violations. The city has in the past turned down renewals of licenses because of excessive violations or other problems.

Surely Donnie Harris, the owner of the new restaurant, is sensitive to the issue of alcohol and children. He operates six day-care centers in Southeast Missouri, including one in Cape Girardeau and two in Jackson. Surely he, like Patty Turner, is in the business of keeping children safe and sound.

Harris has said his new business will operate as a restaurant and not a bar. He estimates 63 percent of the restaurant's business will come from food sales. It is likely most adults who drink at the establishment will do so in the evening hours when the day-care center is closed.

Meanwhile, the council now has an opportunity to take a closer look at clarifying its liquor ordinance or zoning requirements for establishments that serve liquor in respect to day-care centers.