Smaller Eateries to Serve Alcohol Thanks to New Town Code Change

Dine-in pizzerias and coffee shops will now have the opportunity to apply for a liquor license in the Town of Huntington after the Town Board approved the proposed “bistro” category at Tuesday’s meeting.

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

The bistro classification would help the smaller eateries thrive more strongly in the Huntington community, according to Councilwoman Tracey Edwards and Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, who sponsored the proposal.

What does this Town Code approval mean?

1. Certain Starbucks Locations Would Serve Alcohol

The Huntington Starbucks and an East Northport Starbucks, both of which applied for a liquor license in October, would be able to serve alcohol.

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 East Nothport’s Starbucks Serve Alcohol?

A Starbucks representative told Patch in late October that the company has begin the long process of implementing Evenings menu at the East Northport location at 3011 Jericho Turnpike.

In a poll taken on Patch, 60 percent of East Northport residents who voted did not agree with the idea of Starbucks serving alcohol. What do you think? Take our poll here.

2. Town of Huntington Business Classifications Would Change

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.

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.

Read more about the proposal here.

The approved Town Code change will take effect once it is filed with the Secretary of State’s office in Albany. However, Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards said she would introduce an amendment that would not allow bistros in the following Town’s hamlet centers: Huntington Village, Huntington Station, Greenlawn, Cold Spring Harbor and East Northport.

The amendment would be subject to a public hearing. A date for a hearing will be set at the Feb. 10 Town Board Meeting.