Monday, April 13, 2026
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Rome City Commission has denied a request for a waiver from Rome’s coin-operated amusement machine ordinance.
The Stop N Go at 400A Calhoun Avenue asked to continue to be allowed to have COAMs without fully complying with the ordinance, which was adopted in 2024.
Attorney Chris Twyman, speaking on behalf of the store, said granting the waiver would be an act of fairness for a store that was operating prior to the adoption of the ordinance.
“Delta and its predecessors have operated lawfully and honorably for more than a decade without incident and in service to the North Rome Community,” he said. “And to that point, no one has complained about Delta’s operation of COAMs until this variance application was filed.”
The store is located between a church and a residence, so it cannot comply with the distance requirement in the ordinance that states a business with COAMs must be 300 feet from a church and 150 feet from a residence.
During the meeting, several people who live and worship in North Rome spoke.
Elisha Price spoke in favor of the variance, saying the store is conveniently located near her home.
“I am able to walk there,” she said. My grandkids are able to walk there. It’s been a long time since we have had a store that has helped the community, and Mr. Singh has helped the community in lots of ways.”
However, Rhonda Adams, co-founder of the nearby Transformation Christian Outreach Center, spoke against the variance.
“We are right across the street, and we see all kinds of loitering,” she said. “Part of your ordinance says that he cannot have any loitering inside the business or outside the business. He doesn’t even have enough parking spaces for all the congestion that comes, and was there when the machines were there. They were trying to use our parking lot.”
Commissioners Elaina Beeman, Harry Brock, March Cochran, Lisa Fisher, and Wayne Robinson all voted to deny the variance.
Commissioners Bill Collins and Vic Hixon voted against denial.
Commissioner Craig McDaniel abstained.
