by Timothy Rutt
Walmart Neighborhood Market, which opened in March, has posted a notice that is is applying to sell alcoholic beverages at the store.
The notice says that Walmart has applied for a “premises to premises transfer,” which means transferring an existing liquor license from another location, rather than creating a new license.
In public meetings, Walmart representatives have said that a liquor license was always in the planning, but they wouldn’t apply for at least a year.
Did they break that promise? It depends on how you define it.
According to an email sent to the newsgroups by Altadena planning consultant Carolyn Seitz, posting the notice is just the first step in a long process that could take several years before the first bottle of spirits is put on the shelf.
“Keep in mind that they have not yet applied for a Conditional Use Permit with the County Department of Regional Planning. The process with the Department of Regional Planning will take 1 to 2 years, depending on the backlog at Regional Planning at the time the case is filed,” Seitz wrote.
A CUP will have to be in place before liquor sales are allowed at the store, Seitz said. There will also be reviews by the Altadena Town Council and Land Use Committee, and at least one public hearing by the county’s regional planning commission.
“While they have an [Alcoholic Beverege Commission] notice of transfer of license on display on the store, the notice posted also makes it clear that the store does not have permission to sell alcohol,” Seitz wrote. The ABC will not issue a license until a CUP has been approved.
“Nothing is a done deal,” Seitz wrote.
The store, at 2408 Lincoln Avenue, is just across the street from an existing liquor store.
surprise, surprise. They can give away the booze and I still won’t step in the door!
At a meeting just a little more than a year ago, I asked that question of Javier Angulo and reported in Altadenanblog that Walmart did intend to apply for a permit and take over an existing license. He said he thought people would support it, because Walmart is more secure than some of the existing liquor stores. He did say Walmart was committed to waiting a year, but he didn’t say a year from what.
Does the expression “…pants on fire” strike a cord with anyone?
Elliot Gold
The sooner the better …. I recently stopped by Walmart looking to pick up some beer/wine on the way to a friend’s house, and was disappointed to find that it wasn’t available. I wound up going to Super King, struggled to find parking, and then waited 10-15 minutes in the checkout line – this with all their registers open. All told, probably a 30 minute visit for one item. Given the vacant space in Walmart’s parking lot, I’d venture to say Walmart feels they need the license to compete with Super King.
We all knew that WalMart would eventually apply for this, because its representatives said as much, when pressed, in past meetings. I agree with Steve B’s comment that WalMart is probably really feeling the need to find another advantage, in order to effectively compete with Super King’s continuing low prices for many of its products.
WalMart’s business plan, all of which was not made public to the public, is an obvious plan. It’s not like they can fool our community. It’s just sad that their strategy sometimes comes in the form of partial-truths/lies. However, if all of the community had welcomed them, WalMart probably would have been more open/honest in their communications with Altadenans. Community partner? Transparency and honesty contributes to the reality of a good community partner. This doesn’t seem to be evident in this relationship.
We all knew that WalMart would put its foot into the Altadena door, establish itself in the community, then push forward with its own corporate agendas. Everything seems to be on track, now doesn’t it?!
And then there’s this…. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/general-news/20130824/employees-bound-in-altadena-walmart-takeover-robbery The general consensus of opinion is that this site is more secure? Really?? Oh yes, we knew this was coming….