The town of Haddon Heights, New Jersey, will let the booze flow after residents voted to end the town’s 120-year de facto ban on alcohol sales.

Voters in the borough of 7,500 residents approved liquor licenses for restaurants, bars and stores by a 3-2 margin. Of the 3,400 who cast ballots, about 62% voted in favor of allowing liquor licenses, according to the Asbury Park Press. 

Although the town never had a formal ban on liquor licenses, it has never enacted an ordinance allowing them in the 120 years since its incorporation in 1904, according to NJ Advance Media. As of April, Haddon Heights was one of about 30 New Jersey towns that remained dry.

A town can sell one liquor license per 3,000 residents under state law, and Haddon Heights would be able to sell two licenses, officials said.

Haddon Heights’ mayor and council must write and pass legislation to officially end the ban.

The town’s mayor sees economic opportunity in bringing out the booze.

“We’re just looking to stay current with the times. … We have a recently vacant bank that’s in a very grand-looking building. … We could attract perhaps a really cool restaurant to come in and revitalize that bank and repurpose it,” Mayor Zachary Houck told Philadelphia Fox affiliate WTXF-TV.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.