The Town of Aberdeen is moving forward with plans to establish the Aberdeen Downtown Social District, a move that aims to drive foot traffic and encourage longer visits to its newly revitalized downtown area. The district would allow patrons to consume alcoholic beverages purchased from approved establishments while strolling through the designated district.
The proposal garnered substantial support from local business owners, many of whom believe the Social District will provide a boost to the retail and hospitality sectors. All business owners who spoke at one of the town board meetings on Nov. 25 were in favor of the implementation of the Social District and spoke highly of it, listing ways it could help their businesses individually as well as helping Aberdeen stand out.
Janet Peele, a lifelong Aberdeen resident and business owner of 44 years, took the podium to voice her support.
“I can tell you how hard it is [to get] customers in the door and to get them to stay. This will help,” Peele said, speaking from her decades of experience. “I strongly urge you to support this, and I want to compliment you on participating in the Main Street program.”
Peele also praised Downtown Planner Lindy Lamielle for her revitalization efforts.
Another business owner expressed optimism, stating, “I believe the Social District will help drive traffic and growth downtown. It incentivizes residents and visitors alike to stay longer rather than just running in and out of stores. A lot of times in Aberdeen, we all go to wherever we’re headed, run in to get takeout food or buy something at one of the retail shops, and then get back in our car and leave. I think that’s not what any of us want Aberdeen to be.”
A December 2023 survey of downtown business owners and stakeholders found that 90% of respondents favored establishing a Social District. The survey, distributed to 81 stakeholders with 31 responses received, denoted the community’s general enthusiasm for the proposal.
With public safety and business owners of Downtown Aberdeen in mind, the following guidelines were proposed with the implementation of the Social District:
*Establishments with ABC permits must adhere to regulations for carding and limiting alcohol consumption.
*Patrons may only purchase two beer or wine drinks or one liquor drink at a time.
*All alcoholic beverages must be in specially labeled, non-glass cups that display the Downtown Aberdeen Social District logo, the name of the vendor, and the message “Drink Responsibly — Be 21” in at least 12-point font.
*Containers are limited to 16 fluid ounces.
*Alcohol must be purchased from businesses within or contiguous to the district.
*Businesses can opt in or out with window clings reading either “Beverages Welcome” or “Please No Beverages,” which would be provided by the Town of Aberdeen upon request.
*Outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.
*Signs will denote where the Social District begins and ends. Drinks may not be taken out of the Social District or into the park.
Not everyone at the November town board meeting was fully convinced. Mayor Robert Farrell repeatedly raised concerns about the potential misuse of cups, comparing them to “tailgating,” where cups are often reused for outside alcohol. He also questioned how the town would manage an increase in trash over the weekends and declared his lack of support for the plan.
Supporters of the proposal pointed to data from over 50 other Social Districts across the state, suggesting that fears of rampant misconduct or increased crime were unfounded.
“I think the research has revealed that this has not been an issue, at least not a recurring or prevalent one where it’s costing businesses their licenses or leading to rampant drinking and window breaking,” explained Mayor Pro-tem Bryan Bowles in response to these insinuations. “That just hasn’t happened. I think the intel on these districts supports this. But if we want to create a ‘parade of horribles,’ we can do that with anything. We’re going with what the facts show, and right now, the facts simply don’t show that.”
Following a two-week discussion period between meetings, the board voted on Dec. 9 to allow a nine-month trial period for the Social District, allowing the town to gauge participation and weigh the positives against the negatives. The Social District will operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
The motion carried 4-1: Commissioners Elease Goodwin, Wilma Laney, Timothy Helms, and Bryan Bowles voted in favor, while Teressa Beavers voted in opposition to the Social District. Farrell was absent from the voting meeting.
The Downtown Aberdeen Social District can now move forward with further planning, development, and implementation.
Feature photo: Boundary map of the new Social District in Downtown Aberdeen. Graphic provided by the Town of Aberdeen.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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