March 28, 2024
Local News | Kane County Chronicle


Local News

Aldermen approve liquor license for Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 movie theater

Plans to start selling beer, wine and spirits starting in early 2020

ST. CHARLES – Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 movie theater has been given the green light to move forward with plans to include liquor in its moviegoing experience.

At the Dec. 2 St. Charles City Council meeting, aldermen unanimously approved creating a license that would allow a movie theater to sell alcohol. They also unanimously approved a liquor license application for Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18 movie theater.

Classic Cinemas holds liquor licenses at several of its other theaters, including in Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Fox Lake and North Riverside. 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 had 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 two 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.