Arroyo Grande Starbucks can start pouring beer and wine this summer

Thirsty Arroyo Grande residents, raise a glass — Starbucks has been given the go-ahead to sell beer and wine at one of its Arroyo Grande locations.

The Arroyo Grande City Council approved a conditional use permit Tuesday that would allow Starbucks to sell craft beer and wine at the store at 924 W. Branch St. next to the Regal Arroyo Grande Stadium 10 movie theater. The new offerings will be rolled out with a small renovation to the building’s front patio area this summer.

“I actually think the location supports it,” Councilwoman Barbara Harmon said during discussion. “It’s a good fit. I look at this as a casual environment where the option is there to have a glass of wine or beer.”

The change is part of a push by Starbucks to attract more nighttime customers by adding more food and alcohol options. The updated offerings are called the Evenings menu and are sold only at select stores throughout the country.

There are more than 30 Starbucks locations offering the Evenings menu in California, mostly concentrated in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The nearest one is in Santa Barbara.

Starbucks would sell beer and wine from noon to closing time: 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The alcoholic drinks would have to be consumed at the store and could not be taken off site.

The company also has proposed installing a rail in front of the store to comply with state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control requirements. The company plans to redecorate the front patio area with new tables and lounge furniture.

The Arroyo Grande Planning Commission narrowly approved the permit in January, amid concern from some residents about adding alcoholic beverages in a business that is frequented by children.

Those same concerns were brought up at the City Council meeting Tuesday night, with Councilwoman Kristen Barneich and Councilman Tim Brown citing them as the reason they voted against the proposal.

“During the summer, my kids will go there from 10 a.m. and hang out,” Barneich said. “After school, my girls will hang out there for three to four hours at a time. They form a study group or gossip and whatever it is they do. I take great comfort knowing there is no alcohol sold there.”

Barneich and Brown were outvoted by Harmon, Mayor Jim Hill and Councilman Jim Guthrie, however, with all three citing the number of other businesses in the city that sell alcohol but also have large numbers of children on the premises.

With the approval, Starbucks is tentatively scheduled to start offering its expanded menu by summer.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Arroyo Grande Starbucks can start pouring beer and wine this summer."