Rome’s Alcohol Control Commission on Monday recommended approval of alcohol sales licenses at a Broad Street nightspot but rejected similar requests for another nearby establishment.

Commissioners recommended approval of beer, wine and liquor pouring licenses for Debra Q. McCrobie at The Alley Sports Bar & Grill, 325 Broad St., but denied the same for Henry William White Jr. at The Prickly Pear, 333 Broad St. Rome city commissioners are expected to consider both applications Nov. 19. Owner Doug Pedrick decided to sell both establishments after the ACC pulled his liquor and wine licenses. The decision followed an ACC hearing in which Pedrick admitted buying liquor through his Cartersville business and transporting it to Rome for resale, cutting the city out of the sales taxes it collects on wholesale liquor purchases.

Commissioners on Monday asked both applicants whether Pedrick would have any involvement with their operations.

“If you approve the license, (McCrobie) would be in operation, and Mr. Pedrick would be out of here by Dec. 1,” her attorney, David Guldenschuh, told the board.

Guldenschuh said McCrobie and her husband, Brent McCrobie, plan to purchase the business from Pedrick through a three-year deal.

“Pedrick will hold the note but will not be involved in the business in any other way,” he said.

Brent McCrobie said they plan to serve lunch at The Alley if the City Commission approves their alcohol sales licenses next month.

Andrea Arrington, who seeks to purchase The Prickly Pear from Pedrick, presented a sales contract, lease agreement and financial documents to the board, as requested during a previous meeting. Click here to read an archived story about that meeting.

City Attorney Andy Davis said the documents show Pedrick would have no involvement in the new operation, which would be managed by White.

Commissioner Kim Canada, however, told White he “misled” the board about the proposed purchase of the business during the previous hearing.

White told the board in September that local attorney Bill Byington had already prepared a purchase contract and lease agreement for The Prickly Pear, City Clerk Joe Smith said.

“We spoke with Mr. Byington after the (September) meeting, and he said he got a call an hour before the meeting,” Canada told White.

Pedrick “made a mockery of our ordinances,” Canada said, “and you misleading the board … does not do your application any justice.”

Their attorney, Ed Hine, declined further comment when questioned after the meeting.