A few weeks ago, we called on McDuffie County commissioners to simply say "no" to the owners of Jay's Cafe.
The businessmen wanted to re-open a night club in the beleaguered location, complete with alcohol sales to fuel the good times.
But the former T&W Cafe location sits in the middle of a neighborhood filled with children -- an area that needs many things, but not a night club.
So stopping the Jay's Cafe rezoning was the answer we supported.
Commissioners last week did us one better: They compromised.
They balanced the needs of the community with the interests of the businessmen. By rezoning the property to C-1 use, commissioners allow the owners to use their investment, but bar alcohol sales or consumption of any kind there. That's a solution that should satisfy most people.
We're proud of the commission's efforts to best serve that area and hope many in the community feel the same way. It's hard to argue with reality: In the months since commissioners shuttered T&W Cafe, there's been a sharp drop in police calls to the location. And certainly no one has died in the parking lot.
But the issue is by no means over. If the owners do decide to open a business there, especially an entertainment establishment -- restaurant or other -- the community and local officials will have to work together to ensure that no alcohol is brought on the premises.
And, just in case they are thinking about it, we hope the owners will spare the county the expense of a prolonged legal battle over the property. The best decision has been made. Now, it's time to make it work.
