Whitefish approves beer-and-wine conditional-use permit for Central Avenue culinary store

The Whitefish Community Development Board on March 20 approved WCUP25-03, a conditional-use permit that lets a Central Avenue culinary store add beer-and-wine sales for chef dinners and cooking classes.

Planning staff explained that downtown bars and lounges require conditional-use approvals while a standard restaurant beer-and-wine license is permitted by right. Dave (planning staff) said the request is for alcohol sales tied to cooking classes and that no physical changes to the retail store are proposed. “This is a conditional use permit request. We require conditional uses for, bars and lounges in downtown and other commercial zones,” Dave said during his presentation.

The application was filed by Mallory Hicketer (listed in the file as Mallory Hickathier Traivari) on behalf of Central Avenue Holdings. Staff reported that retail hours would remain 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and that cooking classes would be scheduled between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Staff recommended approval with two standard conditions: compliance with the application and an 18-month expiration if alcohol sales are not implemented.

Applicant Mallory Hicketer told the board sales would be primarily bottle service, with the license allowing off-premise retail (for example, inclusion in gift baskets). “Everything we believe will be, bottle service,” Hicketer said, adding employees will be ServSafe alcohol-certified as required by Montana regulations. Public commenter Giuseppe Caltabiano said he supports the business and encouraged patrons to visit.

A public hearing was opened and closed at the meeting; staff said no neighborhood comments had been received prior to the hearing. A board member moved to approve WCUP25-03 “as written in the staff report.” The motion was seconded and passed unanimously; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. The record notes the permit will be subject to the two standard conditions described by staff.