Town considers expansion of Sunday alcohol sales rule

While restaurants in Windermere can sell alcohol on Sundays, an old town rule still on the books prevents non-eateries, such as Tim’s Wine Market, from doing so.

This scenario, however, soon could change.

The Windermere Town Council on Sept. 9 plans to decide whether to adopt a proposed ordinance that would allow non-restaurant businesses to also enjoy Sunday sales of booze. The council gave tentative approval to the ordinance at its Aug. 12 meeting.

Town Manager Robert Smith said the owners of Tim’s Wine Market earlier had approached town officials about the possibility of changing the rules.

“A lot of the municipalities in Orange County have removed those blue laws,” Smith said.

Tim’s Wine Market has “a reputation for being the social hub of the Friday night social scene,” and “wine lovers from Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Gotha, Winter Garden and Ocoee gather for free Friday night wine tastings,” according to the website, timswine.com.

The market has a license that allows it to sell beer and wine and provide the free “pourings,” but it currently cannot sell alcohol for on-site consumption, Smith said.

Under the proposed ordinance, non-restaurant businesses that are within 1,000 feet of a church or school would have to apply for a conditional-use permit in order to sell alcohol “by glass or drink.” Tim’s Wine Market, 428 Main St., is 449 feet south of First Baptist Church Windermere, 300 Main St. The store currently is not open on Sundays.

Smith and Mayor Gary Bruhn said Windermere does not have any bars or grocery stores within the town limits.