Residents in Hollandale voted down a proposal on Tuesday night to allow retail Sunday liquor sales at the town’s only restaurant.

The Hollandale 3-in-1, 101 W. Park St., opened a little over a year ago and serves as the town’s only restaurant, bar and gas station. Owners Dale and Shelli Miller approached the Hollandale City Council in July about getting a question on the ballot for the general election, allowing voters the opportunity to vote on the matter.

The question asked voters whether the City Council should be allowed to issue on-sale licenses to bars or restaurants for the sale of intoxicating liquor at retail on Sundays.

The measure was voted down 53 percent to 43 percent, on a vote of 76 to 67.

“I was surprised the vote was as close as it was,” said Hollandale Mayor Ted Radke. “Things like this very rarely pass the first time through. They did something similar to this in Clarks Grove a few years back, and it took two to three times to pass.”

“The Christian values are pretty strong in these small towns,” he added.

Owner Dale Miller was surprised the vote was as close as it was, since he didn’t campaign for the passage of the ballot measure. He expects he will add it to the ballot in two years.

Miller said the restaurant and bar is generally open Mondays through Saturdays. He said they weren’t intending to be open every Sunday but wanted the opportunity to serve liquor for special Sunday brunch and sporting events.

“There probably aren’t over 12 occasions a year we would be open on Sundays,” said Miller.

According to Radke, if the measure passed, then the City Council could have issued the Hollandale 3-in-1 an on-premise license only, meaning that liquor could only be served inside the establishment on Sundays. Patrons could not carry liquor off the premise.