Collingswood Voters Approve First-Ever Alcohol Sales Referendum

For the first time in its 138-year history, Collingswood voters have approved a measure allowing the Borough to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages, though alcohol sales cannot begin immediately. Following Tuesday’s historic referendum, voters approved a measure giving the Borough the authority to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages, ending a dry tradition that dates back to the town’s founding in 1888, the Borough of Collingswood said in a statement published on its official site.

This is not a green light for last call as usual. It is the opening chapter of a months-long regulatory process that will decide how many licenses Collingswood issues, where they land, what they cost, and who gets to hold them.

2 votes in Camden County, New Jersey: Collingswood alcohol sales, tax increase for flood prevention

Four Licenses on the Table, and a Public Bidding War to Decide Who Gets Them

Under New Jersey law, Collingswood is eligible for up to four Plenary Retail Consumption Licenses based on its population. These are the workhorse licenses of the state’s hospitality industry — typically held by restaurants and bars — allowing alcohol to be served on the premises along with limited packaged sales for off-premises consumption under state regulations.

The Borough is not required to issue all four. It will decide how many to make available, and it plans to hand them out through a public bidding process: the Borough will advertise a license, accept sealed bids, open them publicly, and award each license to the highest qualified bidder who meets New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control requirements plus any extra criteria the Borough sets. A minimum bid will be established after research into recent winning bids in comparable municipalities.

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That structure matters enormously for local business owners.

The Ordinance Work Ahead: Why Nothing Changes This Month

Voter approval does not mean a single license can be sold tomorrow. Before any license becomes available, the Borough must adopt an ordinance spelling out the number of licenses it will authorize, annual fees, renewal and transfer procedures, hours of operation, and general conduct rules. It must also rewrite its zoning code to lift the existing prohibition on alcohol sales and designate the districts where licensed establishments may operate.

Collingswood voters approve referendum to end century-old tradition as dry town

That is a substantial legislative workload, and the governing body has said it wants it done thoughtfully, transparently, and in a way that reflects community interests. Licenses will not necessarily go out all at once — the Borough retains discretion to set different requirements for each individual license depending on the type of establishment involved.

Downtown First: Where the New Licenses Could Land

Early zoning thinking has centered on the Central Business District, the commercial heart of the borough. Hours of operation will also be studied, with the Borough looking at how similarly sized municipalities have handled it.

Collingswood voters approve referendum to end century-old tradition as dry town

No Timeline Yet: What Comes Next for Residents and Business Owners

At this point there is no established timeline for when licenses will be available or when the first licensed establishment could open. The Borough plans regular updates at monthly Commissioners’ meetings, discussion at an upcoming Business Improvement District quarterly meeting, and possibly additional informational sessions. Residents and business owners are encouraged to contact Commissioners directly by email or during office hours.

The devil’s advocate here is time itself: a referendum can pass in a day, but municipal alcohol policy takes months of ordinance drafting, zoning review, and bidding. Businesses that rushed to plan around an immediate opening may find themselves waiting, while the Borough stresses its priority is a fair, transparent, legally sound process aligned with long-term community and economic development goals.

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