Starbucks Applies for Beer and Wine Permit in Georgetown

By BETHANY HOOPER, Capital News Service

WASHINGTON -- Five Starbucks stores in the District of Columbia have requested licenses to serve alcohol in an effort to bring more nighttime business.

This news comes after Starbucks announced a new menu lineup late last year called “Starbucks Evenings.”

The program provides small savory meals, beer, wine and coffee-based drinks, in addition to the regular menu.

The area stores, two around Washington’s Dupont Circle and one each in the city’s Chevy Chase, Georgetown and the Penn Quarter neighborhoods, are taking the initiative to bring “Starbucks Evenings” to the nation’s capital.

All five stores filed a request with the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, listing hours of alcohol service from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.Saturdays and Sundays, according to the report.

The company declined to comment, but gave some information on its outlook for “Starbucks Evenings.”

Starbucks aims to expand the program to approximately 2,500 stores by 2019, a spokeswoman said in an email. This is a 20 to 25 percent increase in the number of participating locations.

Stores that participate in “Starbucks Evenings” are located throughout the country, but none so far are in Maryland or other parts of the Washington metropolitan area.

The hearing for all five stores is set for Dec. 7.