Board approves small-market wine and beer sales at 3800 Sixth Avenue with hours limit

The City of Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a conditional use to permit sales of wine and beer at a limited retail tenant at 3800 Sixth Avenue, with the board adding a condition limiting hours to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Planner Catherine Drahas told the board the request would be limited to the tenant's 600-square-foot bay and that state and local conditions typically limit wine, beer and tobacco sales to no more than 40% of retail gross receipts for a limited retail sales use. She said staff had not found police-call concerns tied to the property and recommended approval with typical conditions.

The applicant's representative, Maria Campos, said the operator intends to stock roughly 10 square feet of shelving for beer and wine and expects the business to remain a small neighborhood grocery focused on snacks and specialty items for the local Hispanic community. Maria Campos said the store does not plan to exceed the 40% gross-sales limit.

Board members discussed whether the 8 a.m.–10 p.m. hours the applicant provided should be added as a condition. With the applicant's agreement, the board added that hours condition to the staff recommendation before voting.

A motion to approve the conditional use with staff conditions and the added hours restriction passed on the board's vote. Staff said the board's written decision would be available about a week after the hearing and reminded the applicant to secure any state licensing or distributor arrangements needed to sell alcoholic beverage products.

The approval allows on-premises stocking and off-premises retail sales of wine and beer within the limited retail bay consistent with zoning conditions; the standard 40% gross-sales cap and the 600-square-foot tenant-bay limit remain in force.