Cold Beer and Wine Store Approved for Coast Inn
By 250 News
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Home
Monday, November 15, 2010 07:58 PM
Prince George, B.C. – The Coast Inn of the North will get a temporary permit to allow it to establish a cold beer and wine store. Only the Mayor and Councillor Debora Munoz opposed the application.
The plan calls for a cold beer and wine store to be located on the lower level of the hotel in the site where Sergeant O’Flaherty’s pub used to be.
The temporary permit will be for 3 years with an option to renew for another three before having to apply for a rezoning of the site.
The license is not a new one, as the Coast owned the license which was in use at the cold beer and wine store that used to be located at Shooters pub on Ospika across from the C.N. Centre. The Coast had closed that store about a year ago.
Hotel Manager Doug Andrews says the store will not carry low cost alcohol content items and will be aimed at hotel guests, and guest of other nearby hotels. Councillor Sheri Green says she is concerned that without a full rezoning process now, there is a potential for this to be allowed for 6 years before neighbours have an opportunity to speak out on the project. Andrews says at this point there has been just basic discussion with the neighbours.
Although promising to work with the RCMP and local service agencies, the Nezul Be Hunuyeh Child and Family Services Society is not impressed.
In their letter to Council opposing the application, they say they are directly across the street from this store, and because their work is with families with addictions, this store will pose unnecessary temptation for those working through their recovery . They argue that there will be increased pan handling and undesirable behaviors in their area.
Councilor Cameron Stolz says he likes the idea of a temporary permit “If it doesn’t perform, we just won’t renew it.”
Hugh Nicholson, speaking in his capacity as President of the Downtown Business Improvement Association says having a liquor store in the downtown right now, “ when we are in the process of recovery if you will, when we are trying to attract business to the downtown, we would like to have some time to speak with Mr. Andrews about how we might find some way to reach a compromise.”
He says the DBIA is not opposed to businesses wanting to improve themselves, but at the same time, they don’t want to go back to what existed when the Prince George Hotel ‘s cold beer and wine store was operating.
Prince George Public Library Chief Librarian Alan Wilson says intoxication is the number one problem they have to deal with at the library. He says while the Coast Inn has been a very good neighbor, he does not want to see the downtown move backward to the way it was when the Cadillac Ranch and P.G. Hotel were up and running.
“In my mind this is not the right location for that activity” says Councilor Deborah Munoz.
The opposition did not get its way.
Councilor Cameron Stolz says looking at a store that sells high quality liquors like $200 bottles of Scotch won’t contribute to the type of problems the Library has experienced.
Councillor Dave Wilbur says he doesn’t believe Prince George “Is all that fragile”. He says he is quite content to support the motion based on the business plan presented.
Previous Story - Next Story
Return to Home
Comments
Posted by: verballabel on November 15 2010 8:05 PMAt least more people will have a job in PG.
Posted by: Pylot Project on November 15 2010 8:49 PMAm I reading the detractor's comments correctly? Are they really comparing the Cadillac Ranch and PG Hotel operations to the operations of the Coast Inn of the North? Seriously?
“In my mind this is not the right location for that activity” says Councilor Deborah Munoz.
Well lay it on us Councilor Munoz... where is the right location in your opinion?
I live fairly close to this location and I have zero problem with the Coast operating such a business. I trust they are responsible enough to do it properly.
“In my mind this is not the right location for that activity” says Councilor Deborah Munoz.
Well lay it on us Councilor Munoz... where is the right location in your opinion?
I live fairly close to this location and I have zero problem with the Coast operating such a business. I trust they are responsible enough to do it properly.
Posted by: gamblor on November 15 2010 8:57 PMMr Rogers needs to loosen his corset...
Posted by: zyblxteu on November 15 2010 9:14 PMany one surprised!
Posted by: Harbinger on November 15 2010 9:29 PMWho was there first? If it matters.
Posted by: cunning on November 15 2010 9:44 PMHugh Nicholson is opposed as President of the DBIA, did he mention that his wife works for the Ramada and didn’t they buy the old PG hotel liquor license.
Come on 250, the rest of the story please.
Come on 250, the rest of the story please.
Posted by: NMG on November 15 2010 10:12 PMHow did people ever survive back in the day when there were only a handful of BC Government liquor stores spread all over the city . . .
Posted by: dnakamura on November 15 2010 10:13 PMClosing down cold beer and wine stores in the downtown is not going to stop these folks from drinking. They will migrate to other areas of the city to purchase their liquor. Did red zoning sex trade workers from downtown stop the sex trade? No they moved into residential areas and now they're underground in crack shacks. These issues are not going away so common sense and strategic planning needs to be in order here. Denying access doesn't decrease the demand.
Posted by: Palopu on November 15 2010 10:25 PMWhen is the Cadillac Ranch going to re-open, and who has that liquor license???
The next thing we will get is slot machines in Hotels, just to go along with the booze. Then we can bring back smoking rooms, dancing girls, and let the good times roll.
The next thing we will get is slot machines in Hotels, just to go along with the booze. Then we can bring back smoking rooms, dancing girls, and let the good times roll.
Posted by: metalman on November 15 2010 10:29 PMI find Stolz' comments come across as flippant. "If it doesn't perform, we just won't renew it" and " a store that sells 200 dollar bottles of scotch won't contribute to the type of problems the Library faces" Do you mean to tell us Councillor, that the common man or woman will not be able to select a reasonably priced alcoholic beverage, or perhaps two bottles from a six pack? I doubt that very much sir. Correct me if I am wrong, but will this not be the only liquor store in the downtown area when it opens?
Flashback: anyone remember The Barn ?
Many hours of misspent youth in that joint.
metalman.
Flashback: anyone remember The Barn ?
Many hours of misspent youth in that joint.
metalman.
Posted by: gus on November 15 2010 10:40 PMHey, it's not as if the Ramada was going to put in a cold wine and beer store, right?
$200 bottles of scotch, eh?
Lots of Lawyers downtown for that cheap stuff.
$1,530 for a 40 year old Glenfidish
$3,286 for a bottle of Hennessy - Richard
$4,205 for a bottle of Krug - Clos D'Ambonnay 1995
Much cheaper to buy downstairs rather than getting it sent up by room service at a 100% mark up.
I can see the need. :-)
$200 bottles of scotch, eh?
Lots of Lawyers downtown for that cheap stuff.
$1,530 for a 40 year old Glenfidish
$3,286 for a bottle of Hennessy - Richard
$4,205 for a bottle of Krug - Clos D'Ambonnay 1995
Much cheaper to buy downstairs rather than getting it sent up by room service at a 100% mark up.
I can see the need. :-)
Posted by: gus on November 15 2010 10:46 PMThe closest to so-called "downtown" is in Redwood Square.
Posted by: Chester on November 15 2010 11:02 PMI support a higher end liquor outlet at the Coast Inn. It's not another drinking establishment. It's designed to provide a select line of products for a specific clientele. There is no other competition in the area that should be concerned.
Comparing the Coast Inn to a few other older establishments in town is an insult.
Previous Hotel Manager Jim Douglas also wanted to bring in a high end liquor outlet at the Coast Hotel and wasn't successful.
There seems to be no problem allowing cold beer and wine stores on every other corner in town, so why the resistance to one that actually makes sense?
Rumour has it that a couple of brothers who are familiar with drinking establishments are renovating the Cadillac and planning on re-opening soon.
Comparing the Coast Inn to a few other older establishments in town is an insult.
Previous Hotel Manager Jim Douglas also wanted to bring in a high end liquor outlet at the Coast Hotel and wasn't successful.
There seems to be no problem allowing cold beer and wine stores on every other corner in town, so why the resistance to one that actually makes sense?
Rumour has it that a couple of brothers who are familiar with drinking establishments are renovating the Cadillac and planning on re-opening soon.
Posted by: outthere on November 16 2010 7:57 AMOne can't help but wonder if Mr. Nicholson and the DBIA would be in opposition to this had it been his wife's employer, the Ramada, making this request. Also, it would be nice to know if this is truly the view of the DBIA or just Mr. Nicholson bullying it's members into agreeing with him.
Posted by: StreetWise2 on November 16 2010 8:31 AMGood grief, I highly doublt the Ramada will e selling the cheap pilsner and $6 bottles of wine. The PG Hotel was a problem because it relied on people that were down an out to finance itself. THe Ramada is catering to professionals.
I pan handler would have to do collect an awful lot of change to get a bottle of wine at the Ramada. Easier to just walk over to redwood.
I pan handler would have to do collect an awful lot of change to get a bottle of wine at the Ramada. Easier to just walk over to redwood.
Posted by: SummerSoul on November 16 2010 8:52 AMJust what we need, another scab outlet to provide minimum wage, part time jobs to the desperate.
Anyone remember when government gleaned the profits from beer, wine and liquor to offset our taxes while paying union wages?
Privatisation was a flop for Alberta and we always follow in their footsteps.
Anyone remember when government gleaned the profits from beer, wine and liquor to offset our taxes while paying union wages?
Privatisation was a flop for Alberta and we always follow in their footsteps.
Posted by: hood rich on November 16 2010 9:55 AMPrivatization worked out well for the consumer in Alberta.
