Smaller Eateries Could Serve Alcohol if Board Approves Town Code Change

Dine-in pizzerias and coffee shops could have the chance to thrive more strongly in the Huntington community if a Town Board public hearing on Dec. 8 approves a new category for food service businesses, according to the Town of Huntington.

This newly proposed classification, “bistro,” would double the number of seats of some smaller restaurants and allow these establishments to apply for a liquor license.

“Creating the bistro classification will help preserve the type of unique, local businesses that are present in our small strip malls as well as in our local villages and hamlets” said Councilwoman Tracey Edwards, who is sponsoring the proposal. “This measure is important so that small businesses continue to have economic growth within the Town of Huntington.”

This Town Code proposal comes after a Huntington Starbucks and an East Northport Starubkcs applied for a liquor license in October. These locations hope to implement a “Starbucks Evenings” menu, which would offer wine and craft beer alongside Starbucks’ signature coffee and tea beverages.

• POLL: Should Huntington’s Starbucks Serve Alcohol?

A Starbucks representative told Patch in late October that the company is in the early stages of considering the Huntington location for the Evenings menu. “It’s a long and thoughtful process and the permit filing is just one of many steps we take,” the representative said.

In a poll taken on Patch, 52 percent of Huntington residents who voted did not agree with the idea of Starbucks serving alcohol. What do you think? Take our poll here.

Huntington Town code currently has two business classifications:

• Food Shops- these places cannot have more than 15 seats and are not allowed to serve alcohol.
• Restaurants- these places can serve alcohol and are required to have a floor plan of at least 2,500 square feet.

The Town hopes bistros would improve restaurant competitiveness and allow the Huntington community’s business interests to continue to evolve.

“We need to make sure that we adjust Town Code to keep up with the times and adjust to changing consumer preferences,” Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said in a press release. “For example, today, many people like to have a glass of wine or a beer with a slice of pizza. This change will help small eateries that traditionally are owned by local business people satisfy that demand and not lose customers to restaurants that already have that capability.”

Bistros would be required to have one seat for every 65 square feet of total floor area, and a maximum of 38 seats in a 2,500-square-foot bistro, according to the Town of Huntington.

The new classification would have to meet parking requirements and would not be allowed to have drive-through dining. No more than 5 percent of the total floor area in these bistros would be used to display prepackaged retail products, the Town says.

The proposal also looks to propose a Town Code change to clearly state the difference between restaurants, bistros, food shops and taverns/bars.

The proposed tavern/bar would not provide kitchen food services at all times and would not have seating at tables for 90 percent of the lawful number of patrons, the Town says.

The public is invited to attend the Dec. 8 meeting held at 7 p.m. at Huntington Town Hall.

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