Clever convenience store 1, uptight neighbors 0

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I guess this goes under "Sightings", but not sure. Mods, please move if not. I figure since it's the story of someone else's story of suck, maybe it goes here.

So the husband, the baby, and I always take back routes wherever we go anywhere. It's just more pleasant. We're pulling into a little gas station somewhere in the upper coastal plane of South Carolina. Real rural.

There appears to be a corral of chain link fence several layers deep right outside the place. This place is one of those places that is a convenience store on one side, and a tiny liquor store on the other, all run by the same guy, a young, sharp looking Indian man (race probably not really important, I'm just being descriptive.)The chain link maze is in front of the liquor store. Nothing is inside the chain link except more chain link.

Husband says "I gotta know." So he goes in and asks the guy what's up with the fence.

Turns out, the nearest building, visible down the rode a short bit, is a little storefront type church. And apparently, they took issue with him opening a liquor store so close. And to back them up, apparently there is a law on the books that state he can't open a booze shop within so many feet of their front door. He was 20 feet or so within that "no booze" zone.

You probably see where this is going.

So our enterprising young immigrant errected a 20 foot long chain link maze leading to the front door of his vice shop, thus getting around the rule.

Evidently, the town courts saw in his favor, because he got away with it. Probably considered the church's suit a nuisance. I mean, really, it's not like the two buildings were rubbing shoulders. Put it this way, I can't throw a rock that far. I'm not good judging distances, but walking over there on a hot day would work up a sweat. It was far enough away that they probably shouldn't have raised a stink.

I just have to admire that kind of cleverness and problem solving ability.

Anyways, I went in there to get some jerky, and he was hanging out with a colorful gang of friendly locals who apparently loiter in the convenience store side of the shop. Judging from the obvious popularity of the place, and the warmth of the owner, I doubt the church found too many supporters in their crusade to shut him down.

So I guess the moral of the story is that dumb people shouldn't try to take on smart people in a battle of wits.

[Dreamstalker]

Turns out, the nearest building, visible down the rode a short bit, is a little storefront type church...there is a law on the books that state he can't open a booze shop within so many feet of their front door. He was 20 feet or so within that "no booze" zone.

So our enterprising young immigrant errected a 20 foot long chain link maze leading to the front door of his vice shop, thus getting around the rule.

That is awesome.

[Dark-Star]

So I guess the moral of the story is that dumb people shouldn't try to take on smart people in a battle of wits.

Did you talk to any of the church people at all? I guess not.

Yes the booze shopper was clever, but 20 feet?! 20 feet is NOTHING.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

No, there were no church people to be seen. It was about 5pm on a Sunday in Podunk, SC.

I think you misunderstand me...the liquor store was not just 20 feet from the church. The church was a bit down the road. Close enough to see, but not close enough that it should matter. The booze shop was 20 feet short of being outside the legal boundary it could be near a church,whatever that distance was.

So yeah, technically, it's iffy or not as to whether or not booze man should or should not have set up shop there. But right or wrong, you kind of have to admire the guy's ingenuity.

And maybe I am a bit harsh calling the church people "dumb". But sheesh, they're both basically set up in a big soybean field. There's nothing around. Why hassle the poor convenient store guy? He's not next door, so why raise a stink about it? He's just trying to make a living.

[One-Fang]

On the other hand ... for whatever reason, at some point, they managed to get it to become law that no booze shops could be within xyz distance of them.

And there's a booze shop there.

I'd side with the church, I'm afraid, and probably have the booze shop owner sue the council for letting him build it (assuming council permits were required) in an illegal space - failure to notify during the build/application process that he couldn't do that.

[otakuneko]

Perhaps he built prior to the law/ordinance, and some sucky churchgoers tried to use the law against him.

But then he shouldn't even have needed the fence anyway, as his store would predate the law would (should) not fall under it. ....except to prevent further suck perhaps.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

What it appeared to me to be was the the dude already had a convenience store on that site. Then he decided to use part of his building to sell booze after the fact, and set up everything and then the church decided to start putting some pressure on him.

I concede that they had a right to put pressure on him, provided it wasn't a case where the law came in after the fact. In which case he should be grandfathered in and off the hook. But 20 feet? When they are way the heck down the road? To me, that just seems kind of petty. I guess which explains my knee-jerk siding with the booze guy.

Legally, I guess the church was in the right. But it doens't make them look like good guys to dicker over 20 feet when they are way down the road.

[Gurndigarn]

Perhaps he built prior to the law/ordinance, and some sucky churchgoers tried to use the law against him.

I'm fairly certain Canada has some version of ex post facto laws.

[Kyree]

Legally, I guess the church was in the right. But it doens't make them look like good guys to dicker over 20 feet when they are way down the road.

I agree with you. 20 feet when he's already down the road is kind of petty. How'd they figure out it was 20 feet short? Take a tape measure and run it down the road?

I mean, if the legal thing was 50 feet, and he was only 30 feet away, I could see the point. But the way you make it sound, is it's hundreds of feet away, at least. How'd they get such an accurate measurement of feet? >.>

[Gurndigarn]

I agree with you. 20 feet when he's already down the road is kind of petty. How'd they figure out it was 20 feet short? Take a tape measure and run it down the road?

There are plenty of doodads that measure distance easily and reasonably accurately.

[Jack7957]

There are plenty of doodads that measure distance easily and reasonably accurately.

Measuring Wheel

This is similar to the one I have for work, I paid about $20 at Home Depot for it.

[Jack Doe]

Don't forget, this is SC. The state which didn't have a lottery until 2002 because it was gambling, and such, a "sin against God." The state where liquor stores cannot sell jack on Sundays, because drinking is a "sin against God." This is the same state that until 2007 required that bars use minibottles because freepour would lead to "strong drink" and "drunkenness," both of which are "sins against God." This is the same state that held that it was illegal for interracial couples to date or marry until 2000 because it was a "sin against God." This is the same ass-backward state that prevents the sale of non-food items with the exception of "essential" items such as food and bevereges (non-alcoholic,) hosery (to be defined as stockings and long-undergarments (briefs and nylon pantyhose are verboten,)) light bulbs, paper based periodicals (newspaper=ok, magazine with glossy cover=verboten,) gasoline and non-distilled oil products, and pharmacuticals before 1:30pm on Sunday because shopping on the Sabbath is a "sin against God." This is the state that moved the Cooper River Bridge Run (an annual 10k charity run) from Sunday to Saturday because engaging in frivilous activity on Sunday is not keeping the Sabbath, and is a "sin against God."

And you wonder why stupid shit like RK saw with the chain link maze happen all across SC.

Edit: Oh yea, and the fact that stores which sell liquor or 'adult' novelties must be placed no less than 500 yards from any school, park, civic building, day care center or place of worship, and the restriction is retroactive. So if a church moves in next to a liquor store, it's the STORE which has to move.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Geez, Jack, do you live here? You pretty much got most of it. He's right, ya'll. our state motto ought to be "Wiping Our Asses On the US Constitution for 200 Years!"

Only you left out "This is the same state that only got around to taking the Confederate battle flag off the roof of their fucking STATE CAPITAL in the summer of 2000.

No, they didn't have it up since the Civil War. They put it back up there in 1962 to make sure black people got the message about what our lawmakers thought about desegregation.

I couldn't make this shit up if I tried, folks.

But you know what? Those overstuffed old trouserwaffles in our state house are dying off. They can't live forever, despite all attempts by Strom Thurmond. And then maybe we can start moving into this time period.

[Ree]

Oh...by the way...did we ever mention FRATCHING!!???!!!!

[Damien]

so, Ree, can I assume that you are hinting about participation in Fratching?