Politics & Government

Schnucks' Alcohol-by-the-Glass Request Gets Ballwin's OK

The grocer's plans faced opposition from residents and some members of the Board of Aldermen.

The Schnucks location at Kehrs Mill and Clarkson Road was controversial for some Ballwin residents before it even opened, but it was once again a source of discussion at this week's Board of Alderman meeting.

At issue: should the grocer be able to sell alcohol by the glass as it does in some of the chain's other stores? The matter is a little more complicated than in other locations because it is so near a residential area as opposed to being in a strip mall setting.

The board took up the request for a special exemption to allow alcohol by the glass at stores on Kehrs Mill and Manchester Road Monday night. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the move, but in the case of Kehrs Mill, limited the exception to indoors-only after residents spoke out.

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"I'm not a guy to buy a bottle of wine and go around the store looking for Fruit Loops," Ward 2 Alderman Mark Harder said, before being reassured that people would not be drinking while shopping.

The Schnucks stores sell prepared foods and provide a place for patrons to sit and have a meal. The alcohol-by-the-glass would complement the meals they sell, if shoppers wanted to buy it.

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Ward 1 Alderman Michael Finley called the proposal "a misstep" on the part of Schnucks because alcohol can be viewed by some as immoral, with an additional concern over exposing children to it. He said he would oppose other similar requests unless they provided areas which could be out of the public view.

The measure still passed by a 5-3 vote with stipulations to limit the sale and consumption to indoor uses only, with a 10 p.m. cutoff. There will be no outdoor entertainment allowed on the Kehrs Mill site. The limit on outdoor alcohol consumption also extends to the parking lot.

The Board also approved the Manchester Road exception request with an indoor-only stipulation. That store location does not currently offer outdoor seating.


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