Charlestowne 18 movie theater seeking to sell alcohol

ST. CHARLES – Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 movie theater wants to include liquor in its moviegoing experience.

The owners and operators of Classic Cinemas want the city to create a new liquor license to allow for the on-site sales and consumption of alcohol at Charlestowne 18, similar to its movie theaters in Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Fox Lake and North Riverside.

The city's Liquor Control Commission plans to review the request at its meeting Monday. The St. Charles City Council's Government Operations Committee also plans to review the request Monday.

Charlestowne 18 wants to sell canned beer, canned wine and canned spirits, general manager Randall Pollock said in a memo. The movie theater does not plan on selling alcohol until the beginning of 2020.

City staff has recommended the creation of a new liquor license that would allow movie theaters to sell alcohol. Movie theaters would have to verify that every patron wanting to consume alcohol is at least 21 years old.

In addition, the containers in which the alcoholic beverages are served must be of a different color, size and design than those in which nonalcoholic beverages are served. Also, the movie theater cannot serve or deliver more than alcoholic beverages to a customer at a time and a person can't have more than two alcoholic beverages in their possession at one time.

Also, no alcoholic beverages can be served until the movie theater is open and no alcoholic beverages can be served more than an hour before the first movie or after midnight each day or after the conclusion of the last movie of the day. The ordinance is similar to rules in other communities.