In November, Elizabethton residents voted 'yes' to having liquor stores in the city limits and Thursday night, they voted on who will occupy them.
"Each and every one, by my standards, met the criteria financially," says councilmen Sam Shipley.

Mayor Curt Alexander tells News 5, there were six applicants. Three were chosen.
"William Armstrong, Billy Chappell, and Nidiffer & Bridges," Mayor Alexander says.

The council voted to determine which applicants best met the criteria for the city. "For the last couple of weeks, analyzing financial statements, looking at locations, things like that," he continues.

Council members say, they had a hard time choosing. "I really wasn't in agreement with limiting the number to three, because I would prefer that the market operate to determine whose successful and whose not," says councilmen Jeff Treadway.

Now that they've been selected, there are a few more steps owners have to take. "Give them their certificate of compliance on Monday. They will send their packet of information to the state of Tennessee, and the state of Tennessee has 45 days to either accept that or reject that, send it back and at that time once they do, their final exceptions they can purchase the liquor and start selling alcohol," continues the Mayor.

For the three that were not chosen, councilmen say, they hope to see that change down the road.
"I hope in the future we revisit this and hopefully open up the opportunity got some more certificates," says Treadway.
 
The three stores are going to be spread across the city.