BevMo Looking at Telegraph Avenue Location

Beverages and More is exploring whether to seek City of Oakland approval for a new store at 4881 Telegraph Ave., a building in the Temescal district that formerly housed Frazee Paints, according to city officials.

BevMo representatives are scheduled to meet with the Temescal Merchants Association on Wednesday, June 12, at 6 p.m. in the Temescal Branch Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave., to outline their plans, said Darlene Drapkin, executive director of the Temescal Telegraph Community Association. The association manages the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District, or BID.

Representatives of the liquor store chain have also talked informally with city planning and zoning staff, said Aubrey Rose, a planner with the City of Oakland.

Rose said the store would need approval of conditional use permits and zoning variances from the Oakland Planning Commission.

City regulations limit how close retail liquor outlets may be to one another. The location where BevMo is hoping to open is close to another liquor store.

BevMo dropped plans to open a store at 3868 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, after meeting strong opposition last year from neighbors and local merchants, who cited concerns about traffic congestion and a preference for locally owned, pedestrian-oriented businesses. (See this article on Piedmont Patch for more information.)

BevMo's Telegraph Avenue proposal is drawing similar criticism from some Temescal residents. Comments from members of a Yahoo email group for the area have focused on BevMo's corporate ownership, potential impacts on local businesses such as The Wine Mine at 5427 Telegraph Ave., and traffic concerns.

Drapkin, of the Temescal Telegraph BID, said the Telegraph Avenue building being eyed by BevMo is about 6,500 square feet, somewhat smaller than the company's typical 10,000-square-foot stores. The building has been vacant for several months and has been a target for graffiti.

She said BevMo representatives have promised a "safe and clean operation" if the proposed store opens, including:

—A 9 p.m. closing time.

—Validated parking in the building's parking lot for customers of nearby businesses.

—Deliveries made to the Shattuck Avenue side of the building.

—Support for community events and / or art-related streetscape improvements.

BevMo staff estimate the store would generate about $40,000 a year in sales tax revenue for the City of Oakland, Drapkin said.