SEAL BEACH : Liquor Store Gets Panel’s OK to Move
The Planning Commission on Wednesday night granted the owner of a Main Street liquor store permission to move his business across the street.
After turning down the same request two weeks ago, commissioners unanimously approved the move of the Nip n’ Stuff liquor store from 323 Main St. after assurances that alcohol will not be sold at the location after the business moves.
Residents in the city’s Old Town neighborhood--where a collection of Main Street shops and restaurants lead from Pacific Coast Highway to the beach--are trying to keep a lid on the number of businesses that sell or serve alcohol.
When liquor store owner John Baker sought city approval to move his store across the street, planning commissioners worried that the conditional-use permit on the original location could be used by another business to sell alcohol.
Commissioners approved the move of Baker’s store after receiving a letter from property owner Ron Bennett, promising alcohol will not be served at the location after Baker moves. The conditional-use permit will then expire in three months due to inactivity, officials said.
Baker is still seeking health and building permits for his new location.
“I know the red tape is still out there,” he said. “You have to cut a little bit at a time.”
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