By Jim Hannah
Enquirer staff writer

BELLEVUE - Bengal tailgaters now have a place to do their last-minute liquor shopping on Sundays.

The Party Source will be the first shop in Kentucky - and in Greater Cincinnati - to sell packaged liquor on Sundays.

Operators of the liquor mega-store say they will celebrate the easing of liquor regulations with a ribbon-cutting and sale at noon this Sunday.

One local radio station has announced it will cover the event live.

The move was made possible after the Bellevue City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to allow Sunday sales of packaged liquor and wine.

The small riverfront city was the first municipality to take advantage of a recent state appeals court ruling overturning a ban on Sunday liquor sales across the Bluegrass, said Councilman Tom Ratterman.

Jon Stiles, general manager at the Party Source store in Bellevue, said he expects a bump in sales now that he can sell wine and liquor on Sunday.

"Stores are busy, people are busy," he said. "It does become a real day here."

The store, west of the Interstate 471 bridge, has been open on Sundays since 1997, selling what it could legally - beer, food and party supplies.

The change may add some sales, "but mostly, we think some sales will migrate from Friday and Saturday to Sunday," he said.

The Northern Kentucky city of a little more than 6,000 residents has figured prominently in the landmark court case that eased Sunday liquor regulations.

Liquor Outlet LLC, which owns and operates the Party Source, successfully argued that municipalities should have the right to regulate sales of packaged liquor just as they regulate the sale of liquor and wine "by the glass" - or single servings offered at restaurants.

Ratterman said city leaders are aware some groups might oppose the ordinance, but that it was good for the city.

"The Party Source brings to Bellevue tremendous revenue, and they are a good steward to the community," he said. "It is more than just a store, it is a destination. We believe when people come here to shop at the Party Source, they also spend money with neighboring businesses."

City Administrator Don Martin said he has been surprised the ordinance met with no resistance.

"We've had no one in opposition to this, which I think is unprecedented for something of this magnitude," Martin said. "I haven't received as much as a call."

John Clay, executive director of the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, said community reaction to the appeals-court ruling would vary.

"I don't think it's going to open the floodgates," to Sunday package liquor sales, he said.

He said cities most likely to consider Sunday package sales are those with a brisk tourist trade or border locations.

In the past 21/2 years, 11 states have joined the list of states allowing Sunday sales, bringing the total to 32, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.

"With Sunday now the second busiest shopping day of the week, states and localities are realizing these outdated Blue Laws no longer have a place in our modern society," Peter H. Cressy, president of the council, said in a statement.

The Enquirer's John Byczkowski and the Associated Press contributed to this report. E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com