Man approaches council about a different kind of business

Published 11:00 pm Tuesday, April 9, 2013

A new business has applied for a lounge retail liquor license in Troy.

Richard Jones, of Aposha, LLC, appeared before Troy City Council on Tuesday night to talk about a different kind of business he has planned for the downtown area.

Jones wants to open a cafe and hookah lounge at 203 Love St. Hookah lounges are businesses where people can use a provided water pipe to smoke flavored tobacco.

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“That’s a business that’s growing in the United States,” Jones told the council, noting that by day, his plans for the establishment would be a low key area with coffee and WiFi available. At night, the business would have more of a bar atmosphere.

“It would be a place for college students and young professionals to go,” Jones said.

The council tabled approval of the liquor license until the next meeting so members could take more time to consider the business. Some members expressed concerns about the business, including a patio area planned for patrons to take beverages outside.

Also at the meeting, the council voted to enter into a two-year agreement already in practice with the Troy Housing Authority to provide supplemental security to the area in exchange for compensation; to provide a portion of $20,237 to be split between Troy, the City of Brundidge and Pike County for two new vans with wheelchair lifts for the Pike Area Transit System; to rezone 416 acres of land belonging to Carolina Girls, LLC on Enzor Road to reserved residential; and to appoint Councilman Greg Meeks to be the delegate at an upcoming League of Municipalities meeting with Dejerilyn King Henderson and Marcus Paramore serving as alternates.

Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves asked the council for, and was given, permission to work with the state on a plan to renovate the dam at the Pike County Lake and restock the area. The lake will be closed almost immediately and will remain closed for about two years.

Reeves also reminded Troy residents that there is a jazz concert at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Troy on April 16, Kindergarten Day is April 18, Clean and Green Week is April 15-22 and TroyFest is set for April 27 and 28.

The next scheduled Troy City Council meeting is April 23.