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Commission approves 7‑Eleven’s request to sell distilled spirits at Paularino location with employee‑accessed cabinet
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Summary
The commission approved a conditional use permit to change an existing 7‑Eleven off‑sale ABC license from Type 20 (beer & wine) to Type 21 (general/distilled spirits) at 675 Paularino Ave, limiting distilled spirits to a locked 4‑ft cabinet accessible only by employees. Vote 6–0.
The Costa Mesa Planning Commission on April 13 approved a conditional use permit allowing an existing 7‑Eleven at 675 Paularino Avenue (Suite 1) to upgrade its ABC off‑sale license from Type 20 (beer and wine) to Type 21 (general, including distilled spirits).
Associate Planner Justin Arios described the proposal and site context, noting the store will retain its existing floor plan and hours of operation (24/7) while confining distilled spirit offerings to a locked, approximately 4‑foot‑wide display cabinet accessible only by store employees. The city police department reviewed the request and had no objections, according to staff.
Bruce Evans, representing the applicant, said he had reviewed and agreed to conditions of approval and emphasized the limited nature of the proposed change: “The store is not going to become a liquor store or anything of that nature,” he said.
Commissioner Dixon moved to find the project exempt from CEQA (Guidelines §15301) and approve Conditional Use Permit 25‑023 subject to the conditions in the staff report; Vice Chair Zick seconded and the motion carried on a 6–0 voice roll call. The decision may be appealed to the City Council within seven days.
