[Source: Joyce Lobeck, Yuma Sun] -- A church that may be settling into a new home on Main Street has merchants worried that it might infringe on one key commodity to revitalizing downtown: liquor. Centro Familiar Cristiano Buenas Nuevas purchased the vacant, old J.C. Penney building at 354 S. Main St. and "just wants to be a part of the community." Arizona law says that a liquor retailer's license will not be issued for any premises which at the time of application is within 300 feet of a church or school. Debbie Mansheim, owner of Basket Creations and More, 245 S. Main St., said she is concerned the law may hamper new businesses' ability to obtain liquor licenses. "We're just right at the turning point," Mansheim said of the downtown efforts. "One of the ways you revitalize an area is to have retail, entertainment, nightlife and people living here. If you take away nightlife, revitalization won't happen. There's lots of places along Main Street where businesses could have outdoor dining. To make the area unique, you need that possibility." However, Arizona law goes on to say that the 300-foot restriction "does not apply to premises granted a restaurant, hotel-motel, special event, club or government license. Nor does it apply to the transfer of premises which had been operating under a previously issued valid license," according to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control Web site. Laurie Lineberry, community development director for the city of Yuma, said the 300-foot restriction only applies to bars and liquor stores. She confirmed that restaurants with food service, hotels and special events are exempt from the restriction.
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