TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT)-An investor wants to open up a beer distillery and restaraunt in downtown
Tuscaloosa in the historic district.  And many area residents are opposing the issue.

Resident Lee Busby says not in his backyard.  He and many of his neighbors who live in the Queen City Avenue area do not want to see too see a beer distillery open up.

“Its the late night and the alcohol part that has most of the people concerned down here.  At some point we have to find the right balance between the bar owners and the drinking crowd” Busby said.

If the proposal goes through, the beer distillery and seafood restaurant could open at Sam Jackson’s Emporium which has sat vacant since 2016.  The former business was open for more than 100 years.  City Councilman Kip Tyner believes its not a good idea.

“I know that the historic district is really fighting this one, and it seems to me on the surface
and I don’t have all the details but it seems like a really bad use of property right there” Tyner said.

Forty neighbors met with Tyner and the historic district preservation commission one week ago to
voice opposition.  Investor Micheal Locascio tells CBS 42 he is hoping to open for business by November.

The building is owned by Bob Monfore, CBS 42 reached out for a comment Wednesday, but our phone call was not returned.