The Agoura Road on Thursday became just the second in Southern California to get the green light from a local government for serving alcohol.
The Calabasas Planning Commission voted 5-0 to grant the coffee chain a conditional use permit to sell beer and wine from 2-9 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Alcohol would only be served in glasses and sold at the counter, according to a staff report.
Rancho Santa Margarita's Starbucks was recently granted its own permit, while a handful of other locations await a similar decision as part of a pilot program Starbucks is rolling out in the state.
But Thursday's vote doesn't mean patrons can order a glass of vino with their favorite latte anytime soon. The application process now heads to the state's Alcohol Beverage Control for final approval for a Type 41 license, which allows the sale of beer and wine only, not distilled spirits.
A round or remodeling, such as installing a rail around the outside patio and a sign that says "no alcohol beyond this point," would follow that final decision.
Anthony Lee, a senior design manager with Starbucks, told planning commissioners that Calabasas was picked for the pilot program because it considered the community sophisiticated and that the company wanted to give adult customers more variety later on in the day.
"Most folks don't choose to consume coffee late in the afternoon or in the evening," he said. "Beer and wine is another offering . . . it's another choice for our guests."
Some homeowners, on the other hand, were concerned about the number of underage patrons that frequent the Agoura Road Starbucks.
"It's gonna be very glamorous for teenagers to think they can with a false ID and purchase liquor," said local resident Lynn Jacob.
Vice Chair Gary Klein said he does not oppose alcohol being served at Starbucks because there are several other restaurants, attended by families, that serve beer, wine and distilled spirits.
"This is not unique in that sense, but there is the other factor that it's not always families that are going to that Starbucks," he said.
Klein added that many teens head to the coffee shop on their own and treat the business as an Internet cafe. He said he would want Starbucks to be very diligent in making sure no one under 21 is sold beer or wine.
Lee said every customer asking for a glass of alcohol will be carded, especially if they look under the age of 40. And employees that will be serving beer and wine would be at least 21 years old, according to a staff report.
Starbucks started serving beer and wine in the Pacific Northwest in 2010, with five locations in Seattle, its hometown, and one in Portland.
