Logan City Council grants new restaurant’s variance on alcohol laws, despite opposition

By Mark Rosa

On Tuesday, Logan’s newest restaurant Even Stevens got the nod from the Logan City council, undeterred by opposition from council and community members, to sell beer despite the restaurants close proximity to one of the town’s oldest religious sites.

Aislinn Grenny, Even Stevens controller, stood before the council and explained that the community location proximity requirement to sell alcohol dictates that the establishment must be no less than 200 feet from the property line of a church, school or community site.

Even Stevens backdoor is 195 feet from the property line of the Logan Tabernacle.

Grenny said, as she urged the council to grant the variance, the sandwich shop pairs its sandwiches with locally brewed beers and although this seems like a small part of the business, it is actually an integral aspect of the Even Stevens brand.

During the public forum regarding the variance, Logan Downtown Alliance members Gary Saxton and Mark Fjeldsted voiced their support for the new business as they spoke to the low-key nature of alcohol sales at other Even Stevens locations in the state.

Despite the general attitude of support, not every community member was in favor of the sandwich shop’s request. Derrick Sudweeks and Shanna Thompson, two Logan residents, explained their concerns.

“With Crumb Brothers being allowed last month and now Even Stevens, I feel we’re heading in the wrong direction,” Sudweeks said. “I think we need to hold true to the values of the community and to the people that we’re a God fearing people and that we do not consume alcohol.”

After ending the public forum, a familiar foe of alcohol, Logan City Councilman S.E. Gene Needham spoke up to share his moral qualms surrounding alcohol consumption in his hometown.

“I think it’s the wrong direction for the community and the wrong direction for downtown,” Needham said in opposition. “I don’t see any reason to perpetuate what is a human tragedy and a plague.”

In rebuttal to Needham’s remarks, Logan City Councilman Tom Jensen said the era in which these liquor laws were established was vastly different from today and that the laws have become outdated and inapplicable.

“Having an alcoholic drink with a sandwich, I don’t think there’s a threat in that situation,” said Jensen.

Although the restaurant owners must still go through the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for full approval of their liquor license application, the council’s acceptance of the variance shows that the town is generally behind the restaurant and supports their request.