AccidentallyTaschen t1_j56gw4l wrote on January 20, 2023 at 7:00 PM

The main issue is Virginia has really archaic bar laws. Tobacco Company is probably best you can get here.

gleepgloopgleepgloop t1_j58ch83 wrote on January 21, 2023 at 2:49 AM

I remember Have a Nice Day Cafe charged something like a $10 cover to get in. That cover charge went towards the buffet they had off in a corner. So that apparently covered the liquor license requirements.

dj1200techniques OP t1_j56hlol wrote on January 20, 2023 at 7:05 PM

That's insane. I wasn't aware of the bar laws. So how do wineries get away with it? I've been to a couple in the area and I don't even remember seeing food on the menu.

ExtremeHobo t1_j56j6ig wrote on January 20, 2023 at 7:15 PM

In 2012 we passed the bill that allowed the brewery Renaissance that we are currently in. Previously breweries could not sell beer without food and also could not directly sell beer. Legend had to sell their beer to Brown distributing and then buy it back. That's how we went from 2 breweries to dozens.

https://m.styleweekly.com/richmond/bill-allows-brewers-to-skirt-abc-food-laws/Content?oid=1688886

Ms-Pamplemousse t1_j56io7h wrote on January 20, 2023 at 7:11 PM

They passed special laws recently for breweries, which i believe Hardywood's founders were involved with, to put them on par with wineries. Because it's good for Virginia and nobody gets their knickers in a bunch about people drinking beer until 10 or 11.

AccidentallyTaschen t1_j56ij3u wrote on January 20, 2023 at 7:11 PM

There are some agricultural loopholes wineries can take advantage of. Something about actually using the land of the establishment to grow crops allows them to operate differently. It was explained to me once but I can’t remember much of the details.