Food Lion, Inc. v. Washington County Beer Board

BROCK, Justice.

Each of the plaintiffs, Food Lion, Inc., and Chuckey Trading Company, sought permits for the sale of beer, but the defendant beer board denied their applications on grounds that the proposed locations were situated within 2,000 ft. of “public gathering places” and thus violated an ordinance of the county prohibiting the location of establishments for the sale of beer within 2,000 ft. of “public gathering places.” Each of the plaintiffs then filed suit in the circuit court seeking to have the *894denial of the beer board reversed and the permits granted on grounds that the 2,000 ft.…