By Vince Lennon
Trenton, GA – It appears construction plans for the city of Trenton’s first proposed “boutique lounge” will stay on the proverbial dusty shelf for Ryan and Melissa Faircloth, owners of the Groovy Nomad on the city’s north end.
The Dade County couple who bought and restored the previously abandoned Southland Motel along Highway 11, recently appealed to Trenton’s City Commission for an amendment to the hotel/motel alcohol law, in allowing for an adjoining lounge to be built contiguous to the 11 room property.
The Faircloths had hoped to repurpose the old motor court’s welcoming lobby into a high-end cocktail lounge for motel guests as well as the general public.
But at Monday night’s August workshop and city commissioner’s meeting that followed, the couple’s dream to add a watering hole to the motel’s hippy mystique quickly devolved into a mirage, as the commission declined to modify the ordinance as requested.
“Its like none of the city commissioners could get that in their head, they’re thinking it’s a honky-tonk or something but that’s not what we’re trying to do,” said Groovy Nomad owner Ryan Faircloth, minutes after Monday night’s lack of action by commission.
Faircloth added he was disappointed but not overly surprised by the commission’s reluctance to his proposed high-end lounge, which he envisioned would be a first for Trenton.
“This ain’t no dollar beer night, it’s nothing like that,” explained Faircloth, who describes much of his clientele as women of means who enjoy designer cocktails and like to share the experience on social media. Faircloth says he’s following the advice of an experienced niche hotelier as his consultant, in trying to capture greater value to his now three year old business venture.
City Commissioners Monda Wooten and Mike Norris were the two most vocal in their opposition to the Groovy Nomad’s alcohol driven inspiration, citing negative public sentiment from neighbors and constituents as well as their individual research on the request.
Wooten said her informal door to door sampling of Groovy Nomad neighbors found most didn’t want to live so close to a bar or similar establishment. Wooten added she also would have preferred a higher food and alcohol sales ratio than the 90% alcohol /10% consumable food margin submitted.
Police Commissioner Norris said while he greatly appreciates what the couple has done in restoring the motel property, he felt his constituents didn’t want to open the city to the type of nightclub.
Afterward, Faircloth said the Groovy Nomad is currently up for sale as he explores other potential opportunities for the property, which he believes can be financially viable, citing local tourism and the success of the nearby McLemore Resort atop Lookout Mountain.
“The people are already here. But they’re leaving our county and they’re leaving our city to go spend their money elsewhere, to eat and drink and what they do, said Faircloth. ” These are not, like Norris said ‘Lucky’s up there in Lookout Valley’, these are not those types of individuals. These are high end individuals looking to spend more money and the city is not letting them do that.”
In commission actions taken; Laura Cross was appointed to the Dade County Public Library Board; a resolution to hold this year’s elections as funded was approved, as are attorney approved modifications to the city animal control law relating to the Trenton Dade Animal Center.