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Published: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009 05:32 PM

Lancaster 'blue laws' may be suspended

Change could boost coomerce in Indian Land

The floundering state of the economy has the Lancaster County Council considering measures to help out local businesses.

In one recent move, the county council gave preliminary approval to a measure that would alter "blue laws" to allow county businesses to open before 1:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Council members said they hope the option could give retailers a few extra hours to bring in much-needed business.

Indian Land's representative on the council, Larry McCullough, voted in favor of the change.

"I believe there was a time and place for those laws and that time has passed," McCullough said.

A first reading of the ordinance was approved 6-1 with Councilman Jack Estridge casting the lone vote against it.

Winthrop economics professor Dr. Gary Stone said typically, when the Sunday blue laws are repealed, businesses see a shift in when money is spent, but not necessarily an increase in overall revenue.

"If you stay open longer, you have extra costs, more energy, more employees to pay. So, if you can bring in enough business to pay for that, that would be OK economically to do," Stone said. "But some businesses will say that the cost isn't worth it, because what we sold Sunday morning we would have sold Saturday evening."

If the Sunday restrictions are repealed, it won't affect the ban on alcohol sales. In York County, Sunday alcohol sales are allowed for onsite consumption at restaurants and pubs because voters approved that option in a referendum last fall.

However, the only local municipality that allows Sunday sales of alcohol is the City of Tega Cay.

McCullough said allowing stores to open early on Sunday could benefit two major retailers set to open in the Panhandle - Lowe's Home Improvement and Wal-Mart. Few, if any, existing Indian Land businesses will be affected by the ordinance because many Panhandle businesses are closed on Sundays.

Grocery stores and most convenience stores and pharmacies are also not affected by the blue laws.

Gayle Summey, pastor at Belair United Methodist Church in Indian Land, said she is against the ordinance and hopes the councilmen will reconsider their votes.

"People have the opportunity to shop six days of the week and surely to goodness they can have that seventh day to attend to their personal worship needs," Summey said.

"God even rested on the seventh day."

Summey also worries that employees will be forced to work early on Sunday mornings and have to forego attending church.

"With the economy like it is now, people can't afford for their jobs to be in danger," Summey said.

"And they may have to make a choice between their job and worship."

Two additional readings are required for the ordinance to be approved.