The East Ridge Beer Board met Monday afternoon at City Hall, granting a permit for beer sales to the new Food City stores in the city.

The permit was in effect a transfer from the Bi-Lo organization to Food City, which has acquired 29 Bi-Lo stores in the area, including both stores in East Ridge.

Food City District Manager Daryl Massey told the board that most all the employees at the stores have been retained, allaying any fears that Beer Board members may have had concerning illegal or improper beer sales. Board member Carnell Storie asked if Food City would sell “Craft Beer?” Massey told him that the store planned to carry a selection of beers brewed in the area.

Storie was also interested in Food City potentially selling wine. Massey said the store plans to carry a selection of wine in both East Ridge stores at 3715 and 6723 Ringgold Road.

Board Chairman Robert Stahl said wine sales in grocery stores, which was adopted by referendum under a new state provision, would be governed by the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

In other action, the board approved a beer permit for Melissa Price, who intends to open up a restaurant/bar at the old Magoo’s site. Price intends to name her business “The End Zone.” She said she is planning on a “soft opening” on Sept. 10, with an official opening on Sept. 12. Price told the board that she also intends to acquire a liquor license for sales of mixed drinks.

Price told the panel of her experience in the food and beverage business, which included concession sales at Warner Park and Finley Stadium.

Chairman Stahl, for purposes of clarity, said that the location of Price’s new venture would be “grandfathered,” as it pertains to the City’s ordinance concerning distances from a church.