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Mostly Cloudy Long Beach Starbucks gets the OK to sell wine and beer
Local officials, residents called on State Liquor Authority to reject application
Starbucks’ application to obtain a license from the State Liquor Authority for the coffee chain’s 101 West Park Ave. location was countered with strong opposition, but the SLA’s full board approved the request on Tuesday.
The application, submitted last October, was the first step to Starbucks’ proposed launch of its Evenings menu at the Long Beach store, which would feature a selection of wine and craft beer alongside small plates like truffle macaroni and cheese and flatbreads.
“For more than 40 years, Starbucks has built a brand that is about fostering moments of connection between our customers,” wrote Starbucks Regional Vice President Ross Shadix in a letter to Long Beach AWARE, a coalition that aims to prevent underage drinking, in November. “By expanding our offerings to include food, wine and beer that are more suitable for the evening hours, our intent is to enhance our role as a gathering place for the community throughout the day and into the evening.”
Starbucks first announced that it would add wine, beer and dinner items in 2010, and rolled out its Evenings menu in August at two dozen locations around the U.S., including one in Manhattan and another in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
Starbucks had sought for a license allowing them to serve alcohol from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. Though the SLA approved the company’s application, they are only allowing the coffee house to begin serving wine and beer after 5:30 p.m.
AWARE Executive Director Judi Vining, who testified at the SLA hearing in Manhattan, noted nine dine-in restaurants that serve alcohol in close proximity to Starbuck on Park Avenue, between Monroe Boulevard and Edwards Boulevard alone.
“Why do we need to have another one?” she said, adding that the chain, which claims to pride itself on community involvement, is ignoring the pleas of town residents and officials.
Though the SLA narrowed the window that Starbucks could sell alcohol from the company’s desired eight hours per day to less than five, Vining, who spoke on behalf of those opposed to the license, said the decision still feels like a loss for much of the community.
