Cape Girardeau movie theater withdraws application for liquor license

Wehrenberg Theatres withdrew its request for a city liquor license Monday after learning that approval could force the company to ban people younger than 18 from Cape West 14 Cine.

The license request had already been approved by the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the city inspector's office and was on the Cape Girardeau City Council agenda as a routine item for its regular meeting. But at a work session before the meeting, Mayor Jay Knudtson told members that a closer examination of city ordinances would have forced a difficult choice on the theater company.

City attorney Eric Cunningham explained that city ordinances ban anyone younger than 18 from establishments that sell liquor, with exceptions for bowling alleys and restaurants where food makes up more than 50 percent of the sales.

"Notably not excepted are movie theaters," Cunningham said.

The city staff will review the ordinance and bring a recommendation to the council if Wehrenberg wants to pursue the license, Cunningham said.

A few council members expressed reservations about the idea. Councilwoman Marsha Ritter said constituents had approached her about the proposal and said they "don't like the idea of children being exposed to alcohol."

Councilwoman Debra Tracy said it is a sign of a business trying to shore up its bottom line. "When the video business is so good, you'll do anything to get people in the door," she said.

Police chief Carl Kinnison said he was reviewing the council's agenda when he realized the ordinance would force Wehrenberg to choose between allowing young people or selling liquor.

Wehrenberg's business plan for introducing alcoholic beverages to the theater would be to sell beer and perhaps wine, James Hoffmeister of Wehrenberg said in a telephone interview. Some Wehrenberg theaters have been serving alcohol for about 10 years, Hoffmeister said. The company plans to extend alcohol sales to as many theaters as possible.

Mixed drinks would have been available when a movie event was tied to a specific offering, he said.

"We had cosmopolitans at theaters that showed 'Sex and the City,'" Hoffmeister said. "Right now it is beer and possibly wine and occasionally a specialty drink. It won't be a full bar."

The alcoholic beverages would have been available from a section of the concession stand set aside for the sales. The company limits drinks to one per person and everyone purchasing an alcoholic beverage is asked to show proof of age, Hoffmeister said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com/today