Church wants to halt new bar from opening

The folks at Lynwood Baptist Church have been spreading the word.

By e-mail, through the church bulletin, from announcements, in Sunday school classes and by general word-of-mouth.

And it's not just the word of Christ. A vocal group of Lynwood churchgoers has been spreading the message of government participation -- opposing a restaurant and bar that could open up across Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau from their place of worship.

Meanwhile, Tony Scruggs, the owner of the establishment in question, said no one has contacted him with any concerns. He said his lounge and restaurant would feature "elegance and class."

The disabled Vietnam veteran said he is a bit insulted by the fact that no one has bothered to approach him and find out what kind of person he is and about his intentions for his business.

Jim Goggin, one of more than 1,300 members of the church, spoke at the last city council meeting and will do so again Monday night when the council considers approving a liquor license request from Scruggs.

Scruggs, 54, is himself a member of St. Mark's Family Church in Bellefontaine, Mo. He wants to open Big's Sports Bar and Lounge at 2005 N. Kingshighway.

Mayor Jay Knudtson said he has already heard from several church members in opposition.

"My e-mails have been burning," Knudtson said. "To the church's credit, they have a terrific church family and have implemented a systematic, strategic plan to oppose this particular request."

Goggin, who said church members have been asked to contact their ward representatives, made a three-point argument at the last meeting as to why the new establishment should not be opened.

He said that, because Kingshighway serves as an entrance to the city, a bar would give a bad first impression of Cape Girardeau to visitors.

He said the location, which used to be a scuba training facility, does not have enough parking to support a bar. He said he feared that the bar's patrons would end up parking along the church's driveway if the bar's lot were filled.

And third, he said, the church has a moral obligation.

"We just haven't seen anything real positive come out of a bar," he said. "A large percentage of people leave drunk. Then they leave and get on the street and this is a busy highway. We oppose it with every fiber of our body, and I think we have received a positive reception from the council."

Scruggs' describes his future restaurant as a "very quiet, dignified place with no rabble-rousing. To me, their fears are unwarranted."

He said the lounge would target the 30-years-and-over crowd and provide a relaxed, romantic atmosphere with dancing.

The sports bar, in a different section of his establishment, would be for members only.

He compared his place to other places in the city, like Applebee's, that have dining and a sports bar.

Legal requirements

Whether or not the Lynwood members' fears are warranted, one thing is certain: Scruggs has met all the legal requirements for his business.

City attorney Eric Cunningham said the council's parameters for making a decision on this issue don't include how much opposition is involved. The council, he said, is simply supposed to decide whether the business meets the criteria and make their decision accordingly.

"Everyone needs to be aware of the parameters that the council has to work with here," Knudtson said. "We have been working closely with the church in fielding questions and concerns, and I feel strongly their voice will be heard. But the approval of a liquor license is very defined. This particular request meets all the requirements.

"I've talked to every council member, and we are not in the position to mandate law through morals."

Goggin said there will be a small group at the council meeting Monday night, and he will talk for about five minutes. He said that council members have discussed the possibility of holding a large public hearing at a later date.

The city does not normally hold public hearings regarding liquor licenses, but an exception could be made. In order to do that, however, the council -- not the city staff -- would have to set up the hearing, and that would require the council to table the measure Monday night.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127