Whole Foods receives OK for beer sales

Patrons of Whole Foods in Germantown can already sample beers to take home in their growlers, and they soon will be able to have a full beer in a loft restaurant planned for the store’s second floor.

The food chain received permission Monday evening from Germantown aldermen, in their capacity as the city’s beer board, for on-site beer consumption restricted to a 70-seat loft area and one other lower area in the store at 7825 Poplar. The vote for approval was 3-2. Aldermen Forrest Owens, Rocky Janda and Alderwoman Mary Anne Gibson voted yes. Aldermen John Barzizza and Dean Massey, who had broader problems with language in the city’s regulations for alcohol consumption, voted no.

A letter to City Clerk Michele Betty says patrons will be alerted that consumption is restricted to the loft. Store Manager Rachelle Beauvais said the store also will seek to serve wine, as at the Whole Foods Memphis location, but that the request for on-site wine consumption would come in a separate application.

“Whole Foods intends to permit a loft, which is located on the second floor of the grocery store,” according to a letter from the chain explaining the request. “The loft has a total of 70 seats. The loft will also serve as the restaurant at the grocery store . ... Upon issuance of this on-premise beer permit, Whole Foods will post signage in a conspicuous location at the entrance of the loft that beer is not to be consumed outside of the loft.”

The on-site consumption would complement expanded options for alcoholic beverages allowed by changes to the city’s beer ordinance approved in November. Those changes updated the city’s ordinance in response to changes in state law that grew out of the addition of wine sales in grocery stores that began last July 1. As part of the updates, aldermen approved language that allowed growler tastings at Whole Foods and other businesses in the city with growler stations. The changes also opened the door for new categories of businesses, such as breweries or tap rooms.

Also Monday evening, aldermen acting as the beer board approved a request for a temporary beer permit from Leadership Germantown. The organization sought permission to sell beer during its annual Trivia Night Saturday at the city’s Great Hall and Conference Center. The board approved the request

2-1, with Barzizza and Owens voting yes and Massey voting no. Janda and Gibson recused themselves because of their involvement with Leadership Germantown.

Aldermen also approved on first reading amendments to the city’s code to clarify restrictions on the locations of wholesale and retail alcohol selling establishments. Janda, Gibson and Owens supported the new language, while Barzizza and Massey opposed. A public hearing and second reading will be April 24.

The November changes to the beer ordinance removed restrictions on the sale of alcohol within 200 feet of residential property. City Administrator Patrick Lawton said the intention was not, however, to remove that restriction as far as liquor stores are concerned, so the proposed amendment would restore the 200-foot restriction against liquor stores. The proposed amendment also clarifies the zoning districts in which retailers and wholesalers may be located and the zoning districts in which retail food stores may sell wine.