Council approves transfer of beer-and-wine license to 309 Central Avenue (Wild Coffee)

The Whitefish City Council on Nov. 3 granted a conditional use permit to transfer a beer-and-wine license to 309 Central Avenue, the business commonly known as Wild Coffee.

Lauren, a city planner, told the council that the proposed location is in a WB-3 zone surrounded by commercial uses and a church and that staff and the Whitefish Community Development Board (which held a public hearing Oct. 16) recommended approval. The current food-service operation that previously used a beer-and-wine license at another address is no longer active, which triggered the need for a new CUP for the different location.

Applicant Sam Down Howard said the license allows retail take-out sales (a customer could buy a bottle to leave) and that the immediate plan is to offer mimosas during Wild Coffee’s existing hours; he said the operation would run roughly 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The applicant said the liquor board’s rules encourage license holders to continue using a license to avoid forfeiture.

Councilmember Giuseppe moved to approve the conditional use permit (CUP 25-09); the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote. Council discussion expressed general support for the business and the hoped-for added vibrancy downtown.