The restaurant chain will undergo a public hearing before their request for a liquor license will be granted, but a corporate spokesperson said the chain has no intention of becoming a bar.
More than a month after submitting a formal request to the city of Athens, Chipotle Mexican Grill still faces a couple obstacles in the way of getting a license to serve booze Uptown: A locally-held public hearing and then a decision from the Ohio Department of Commerce.
Council members requested the meeting, and asked Athens Law Director Pat Lang’s office to prepare an objection to giving Chipotle a license.
The city will present its argument to an attorney from the Department of Commerce, who will complete a report for department supervisor Bruce Stevenson, according to department spokesman Mike Mullins. The date for the public hearing is not yet determined.
Someone could have a basis for objection if the establishment is in a location that could negatively influence public decency of the neighborhood, or if the city is oversaturated with licenses, according to Ohio Revised Code.
“(Sometimes) the objecting party would show a number of police runs to the objected areas,” Mullins said. “The grounds for objection vary. The objecting party needs to show evidence … Every case is different.”
The request, along with two other requests from Thai Paradise on 102 W. Union St., and Jerry’s Tavern on 55 N. Court St., would put the city at its full quota of D5 liquor licenses, which allow for beer, wine and liquor to be served until 2:30 a.m.
Council missed the deadline to request a hearing for Jerry’s Tavern request while it was on hiatus in August.
Mayor Paul Wiehl said he understands concerns of those objecting new liquor licenses, so he doesn’t object to holding a public hearing.
He added he would generally like to see fewer Uptown alcohol establishments but didn’t think preventing Chipotle from getting a license would make much difference.
“You’re talking about one less business,” he said. “(It’s difficult to know) when to say there are too many bars. There are bars, but the majority of the rest do have liquor licenses.”
Unlike Fluff Bakery, those would be new permits, rather than transfers from other establishments.
“I think Chipotle should absolutely get a liquor license,” said Tim Arsenault, a freshman studying sports management. “Get a nice cold beer and a burrito.”
City council members who requested the hearing expressed concern that granting Chipotle’s request would essentially create another Uptown bar.
Likening Athens to the “Wild West,” Jennifer Cochran, D-at large, said having too many Uptown businesses selling liquor could have a negative impact on the town.
She and others also raised concern over the prospects of allowing Chipotle to serve liquor until 2:30 a.m., as the license would permit.
But Chris Arnold, Communications Director at Chipotle, said in an email that out of nearly 1,800 Chipotle restaurants nationwide, none are open past midnight. The Athens restaurant is currently open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“In restaurants that serve alcohol, our staff is appropriately trained and we are diligent in requiring IDs,” he said, adding that almost 1,000 restaurants have full liquor licenses, and others have licenses to only serve beer.
“Most of our restaurants have a full liquor license so we can serve beer and margaritas, which we like to offer as those things complete the dining experience for some of our customers,” he said.
He noted that alcohol sales account for only about two percent of their total revenue.
Arnold said he didn’t know why the Athens Chipotle just recently applied for a liquor license, but he said that all applications are made at the corporate level. The restaurant has been open at its Uptown location since 2008.
“We aren’t a bar and we don’t intend on becoming one,” he said. “… Alcohol is only a very small part of what we do.”
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