Public Hearing- Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk
Title
Approve On-Sale and Sunday Intoxicating Liquor Licenses for Northtown Drive LH, LLC Located at 398 Northtown Drive NE
Executive Summary
Council is asked to approve the on-sale and Sunday intoxicating liquor licenses for Northtown Drive LH, LLC. This license will give the Northtown Mall Food Hall, located in Northtown Mall at 398 Northtown Drive NE, the ability to serve intoxicating spirits, beer and wine.
Background
A public hearing is required prior to the approval for on-sale and Sunday intoxicating liquor licenses in the city.
Soline Orlina, applicant, submitted the on-sale and Sunday intoxicating liquor application on behalf of Ignacio Garat of CSS Company/Echelon Trust for Northtown Drive LH, LLC. The applicant included the required license fees, forms and documents. Issuance of licenses are contingent upon receipt of an updated certificate of insurance, certificate of occupancy, successful background investigation, and an Anoka County food and beverage license.
Northtown Mall’s Food Hall is comprised of several small restaurants offering a number of different food selections. Statute allows cities to issue on-sale licenses to locations that meet the definition of a restaurant which includes meals regularly prepared on the premises and served at tables to the general public. After review with the Department of Alcohol and Gambling as well as Anoka County Public Health and Environmental Services, while Northtown Drive LH will not be preparing food themselves, they meet the criteria of a restaurant through the individual kitchens and will be issued a food and beverage license by Anoka County. Failure to meet the minimum criteria for a restaurant is grounds for council to suspend, revoke, grant, deny, renew or not renew these licenses.
The background investigation is currently in progress for Mr. Garat and Mr. Delmont, the on-site responsible party. The on-sale and Sunday liquor licenses, if approved, would be valid until June 30, 2022 and eligible for renewal July 1, 2022. All required information will be submitted to the state’s alcohol and gambling enforcement division upon approval of the licenses by the council. One requirement for the license is that all alcohol must be served and consumed within the food hall area as indicated on the floor plan; no alcohol can be consumed in the seating areas outside the food hall or in the general mall area.
As part of a future business model Northtown Drive LH may wish to include alcohol delivery as part of a to-go food order through a third-party delivery such as Grubhub or DoorDash. This service would require an off-sale liquor license but no licenses are currently available based on city code. Should Northtown Drive LH wish to further explore this model staff will provide possible options for council consideration.
Strategic Plan Relationship
This license approval relates to both financial sustainability and growth management priorities in the strategic plan by attracting new businesses to the city.
Board/Commission Review
N/A
Financial Impact
Liquor license fees, adopted annually by city council, provides sufficient funding for review and issuance of the licenses as well as compliance checks and any other necessary license monitoring/enforcement.
Public Outreach/Input
Notice of public hearing was published in Blaine/Spring Lake Park/Columbia Heights/Fridley Life and on the city’s website on Friday, September 10, 2021 as required by city code. No feedback was received by the Clerk’s Office.
Staff Recommendation
Hold a public hearing to receive input regarding the on-sale and Sunday liquor licenses, then by motion, approve issuance of on-sale and Sunday intoxicating liquor licenses for Northtown Drive LH, LLC located at 398 Northtown Drive.
Attachment List
Public hearing notice
Floor plan