L.B. Starbucks stops selling wine and beer

Coffee chain pulls its ‘Evenings’ menu from locations across U.S.

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Starbucks ended the sale of wine and beer at more than 400 locations across the U.S. last week.
Starbucks ended the sale of wine and beer at more than 400 locations across the U.S. last week.
Christina Daly/Herald

Nearly a year after the State Liquor Authority granted Starbucks a license to sell wine and beer at its Long Beach location, the high-end coffee chain revealed this month that it would stop selling alcohol at more than 400 locations in the U.S.

The company ended its “Starbucks Evenings” menu — which featured a selection of wine and craft beer alongside small plates like truffle macaroni and cheese and flatbreads — on Jan. 10.

The company announced in 2015 that it would feature the new items at hundreds of locations, a concept that was expected to generate $1 billion in additional annual sales by 2019, according to USA Today. The company first announced in 2010 that it would add wine, beer and dinner fare at some of its stores, part of an effort to boost traffic after 4 p.m., when it said sales tend to slow. The company also said there was a demand for dinner options as well as wine and beer in the evening among customers.


But now Starbucks appears to be focused on boosting its breakfast and lunch items, and the company said it would integrate beer and wine into its higher-end Roasteries and Reserve stores, according to the Associated Press.

A spokesperson for Starbucks did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

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 in town, but the SLA’s full board approved the request last February, allowing the coffee house to begin serving wine and beer after 5:30 p.m.

Though the addition of wine and beer at Starbucks had its share of supporters in Long Beach, in a town known for its many establishments that serve alcohol, community members and elected officials spoke out against the application in an effort to maintain a substance-free gathering place for adolescents.

Local officials also said that Starbucks is a popular place for kids, who often meet there after school, and for families who attend nearby events at the library and Kennedy Plaza.

“We really knew that this wasn’t a good idea for Long Beach and we wish that they had listened to us initially,” said Judi Vining, executive director of Long Beach AWARE, a nonprofit coalition that aims to prevent underage drinking and substance abuse. “It’s great to again have Starbucks as a safe place for our kids to hang out.”