Westover PODA passes first reading
A PODA is a defined district in which participating businesses can sell beverages containing alcohol to customers who can carry those beverages in identifiable cups to other participating locations within the district.
If ultimately approved on April 21, this will be the second such district in Monongalia County. The city of Morgantown launched its PODA, dubbed The Morgantown Mile, in May 2024.
Unlike Morgantown, however, which included its downtown and Wharf districts in its designated area, Westover's district is centered around a single structure — 94 Long Street.
That address is the current home of Short Story Brewing and The Burger Place, and soon to be home of Bunkers, a golf and multi-sport simulator facility.
Jordan Alonso, who's opening Bunkers with her husband, Zach Kines, said that while the new business will be located within the same building as the brewery, they're separate entities, making the PODA designation necessary to allow patrons to carry drinks from one to the other.
"We're in the same building, but due to the fact that we have walls that go all the way to the ceiling, we're two completely separate entities and we count as two separate buildings, " Alonso said. "Bunkers has a door that goes out onto Short Story's deck, so you're able to walk out onto the deck. You don't have to walk out into the parking lot or anything like that."
Kines said Bunkers is nearly ready to open, but has been waiting to get the PODA in place to offer the best possible experience for first-time visitors.
According to information on the Bunkers Facebook page, the business "will offer four widescreen, Full Swing sport-series simulators and a lounge area. Each bay will be equipped with its own bar top seating and televisions to give every customer a great and comfortable experience."
Kines said the indoor driving range will feature 55 different golf courses to select from as well as soccer, basketball and football simulations.
If ultimately approved, Westover PODA hours would be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
In other Westover news, the Holland Avenue retaining wall is nearly complete and 24-hour construction is expected to begin as early as next Tuesday, when Blue Gold Construction turns its attention to replacing the sewer and stormwater pipes beneath the road's surface.
"We've had complaints about the traffic, some reasonable, some very unreasonable. It's just going to be tough for a while, but you're already seeing dividends. The wall is gorgeous. It's going up really nicely. We'll just have to do our best to work through it, " Westover Public Works Director Jason Stinespring said. "Hopefully by the end of the week, the wall will be done. They're working every day they can."
The Holland Avenue project is expected to stretch into mid-June.
Lastly, council set Westover's annual Spring Cleanup for April 21-24.
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