South Jersey residents must decide whether businesses can sell alcohol by ballot

For the past 120 years, people living in a small community in South Jersey had to travel to another city to purchase alcohol.

Haddon Heights is one of the few remaining dry towns in the Garden State. Take a drive through downtown and you’ll see flower shops, boutiques, jewelry stores and restaurants. You won’t find a bar or liquor store. That has been the case since the church was organized in 1904, but change was coming.

“There is an opportunity to bring a whole new customer base to our downtown,” said Zachary Houck, the mayor of Haddon Heights.

Houck said there will be a non-binding referendum this election on whether businesses can sell alcohol. Houck has advocated for a yes vote and believes it would boost the business district.

“The small stores that they will benefit from will benefit because you are creating an influx of pedestrians into our downtown,” Houck said.

In New Jersey, the number of retail liquor licenses is based on population. In Haddon Heights, the mayor said the community could get two permits if a change were made. That’s why we asked voters what they think.

“There’s only a few restaurants here in town, why don’t we have a few liquor licenses here,” said Vicki Lee, who cast her vote during early voting.

“As a resident of Haddon Heights, I think this is a good opportunity for us to have something more local that we can take advantage of,” said Cat Hutchison, owner of Trouble Brewing Coffee House on Station Avenue.

“I can’t imagine what it would be like if it changed. I’m pretty traditional and pretty conservative, so let’s just keep it the way it is,” said Georgianne Kloss, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost 70 years.

Regardless of how the referendum ends, the mayor and aldermen still have the final say on whether a regulation will be adopted.

“We would respect the wishes if they were overwhelmingly favorable one way or another, yes or no,” Houck said.