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Target appeals alcohol decision
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Target Corp. has appealed a Ventura city commission's decision blocking the company from selling beer and wine at its newly opened store at Pacific View mall.
Last week, the city's Planning Commission rejected Target's application because it didn't like the idea of having alcohol in a mall frequented by teenagers and across the street from a middle school.
In a three-page filing submitted late Wednesday, the Minnesota-based company said the Aug. 19 unanimous vote on the grounds alcohol sales were incompatible with the mall was "erroneous." The company wants Ventura's City Council to overturn the decision and approve its requested permit to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption at its two-story, 220,000-square-foot store on Mills Road that opened in March.
No other store in the mall currently sells packaged alcohol,although beer and wine are sold inside restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen and Red Robin.
The other Target store in Ventura does not sell alcohol, but some in other cities, such as Camarillo and Moorpark, do have beer or wine sales in their grocery store sections, officials said.
City planning staff had recommended the company's proposal, saying the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption is allowed under city zoning rules and police didn't think it would be a problem at the mall or increase crime in the area.
The appeal cost $906 and likely won't go before the City Council until sometime in October, Ventura City Clerk Mabi Plisky said.
Ventura has more businesses licensed to sell alcohol than any othercity in the county — 109 active licenses for off-site sales and 259 licenses for on-site sales, according to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Posted by ebrockway on August 28, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vons and Albertsons sells alcohol. So does Ralphs. They're close to schools, get real.
Posted by Angelito on August 28, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i say ban alcohol in the city
Posted by jeff93024 on August 28, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Society (including alcoholics) acknowledges all of the problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption. But on the other hand, we keep making and selling more and more alcohol, and we keep trying to license more alcohol sales outlets. Kind of conflicted, aren't we? I guess the liquor lobby has too many friends in high places, and as for those liquor wholesale and resale tax revenues, well, how would we be able to run the country without them? If we couldn't get the alcoholics to keep pitching in so willingly, we'd probably have to raise taxes. (....and maybe build more casinos to drain more revenue from the gambling addicts and wishful rubes.)
We might be making some money on the front end, and maybe the rule-makers figure that alcoholism is yet another form of population control they can institute without actually having to gun any of us down, but how many hospital beds are filled with alcoholics whose lives are now costing society untold billions in taxpayer dollars? It doesn't balance out in the long run. It doesn't balance out for anybody.
Posted by Logic_andFreedom on August 28, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IF IT IS AT THE MALL,
BAN THE ALCOHOL
It is too busy there for the clerks to check ages.
Posted by FreedomFirst on August 28, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think that everyone who buys or drinks alcohol is an alcoholic as you'd portray them to be. Lighten Up and live up to your moniker "freedom"! Maybe you need to have a few brewskis to loosen up and learn to "live and let live". Let them sell it, it's not as if they're actually serving it, heaven forbid!
Posted by sunnbear on August 28, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ban alcohol and legalize marijuana. The smart thing to do.
Posted by LivinInPoorMansPV on August 28, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is alcohol at Red Robin and CPK and they are both INSIDE the mall. Hard alcohol!
Posted by beachgirlovkatz on August 28, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its not like if target in the mall starts selling alcohol that all of a sudden the teens of Ventura will for the first time get to experience alcohol. If teens want to drink they do, target isn't going to affect that in anyway. Its just going to help ventura because of the sales tax from the alcohol. And Angelito if you want to live in a dry place move to Utah
Posted by BabyzDaddy_01 on August 28, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rcamacho:
From what I've read, that 21 and over section of the theatres will be a balcony dining/bar in the actual theatre while you watch the movie. So unless Uncle Bill has connections, I believe minors won't be allowed up there.
Posted by Wendy_Halderman on August 28, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, the Planning Commission didn't trust the city staff's recommendation OR the police department's opinion. It will be interesting to see what the council does with this one.
If "proximity to children and teens" is a reason to prohibit the sale of packaged alcohol, shouldn't all grocery stores should be disallowed from selling it, too? The Vons on Telegraph Rd. is a stone's throw from an elementary school, a middle school AND a high school, and they have two full aisles dedicated to alcoholic beverages.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on August 28, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alot of teens that are underage get jobs at Target. You can not sell alcohol if your under 21. Therefore most cashiers would have to constantly be calling for an approval. Just hold up the lines !!!!!
Posted by sunnbear on August 28, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another good reason to lower the drinking age to 18.
Posted by sunnbear on August 28, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Although 18 year olds can sell closed-capped alcohol.
Posted by opns on August 28, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep the d_mn alcohol out of the malls folks. Raise the drinking age limit to 25, we have too many people dying of alcohol related diseases at such a young age. And keep the military and voters of of the issue. This is a medical issue.
Posted by Wendy_Halderman on August 28, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If selling items with potential negative medical consequences are to be forbidden at the mall, then you'd also have to ban candy, cookies, chocolate, donuts, pizza, sodas, etc. Also, high-heeled shoes.
Posted by opns on August 28, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wendy - you amaze me - the topic is alcohol, huh
Posted by Bud_Bundy on August 28, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amazing how Oxnard and Ventura differ. Ventura turns down Target's request even though the planning staff and police reccommend it, while last week Oxnard approved a license for Casa Lopez, which is owned by a guy who has had two previous licenses revoked, is under criminal investigation for illegally using another persons ABC permit without permission, allows minors into his night club all night long by calling it a restaurant, and in this case the police was strongly against the permit.
No wonder Oxnard is so much like a third world country.
Posted by Wendy_Halderman on August 28, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Opns, sorry, I thought you said it was a "medical issue".
Posted by getreal on August 28, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
annawhat I believe you can sell beer and wine at 18 and liquor at 21. At least thats how it is in the restaurant world.
Posted by sparks240 on August 28, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
annawhat, I believe a minor can sell packaged alcohol, but you have to be 21 to sell open containers.
Posted by sunnbear on August 28, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by joefox on August 28, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ban alcohol and legalize marijuana. The smart thing to do
Wish I would have said that myself...Oh, wait...I did!
Posted by vcsexplorer11 on August 28, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, this needs to get passed. How can I pass out and ride the shopping cart to the top of the escalator if i'm not drunk.
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