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Council approves Target's request to upgrade liquor license, allow limited in-store instructional tastings
Summary
After staff presentations and questions about hours, tasting controls and neighborhood impacts, Gardena council approved a conditional-use amendment allowing Target to sell distilled spirits and host limited instructional tastings on weekends; the resolution passed 4-1.
The Gardena City Council on March 10 approved an amendment to Conditional Use Permit 9-04 to allow the Target store at 2169 West Redondo Beach Boulevard to sell distilled spirits and to hold limited instructional tastings.
Planning staff described the request and conditions: distilled spirits would be added via an ABC Type 21 license; instructional tastings under a Type 86 license would be restricted to Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., limited to no more than three one-ounce tastes per person per day and to vendor-controlled, cordoned tasting areas (about 40 square feet). Staff said alcohol sales and tastings would occupy less than 10% of the store's total floor area and noted no written opposition had been received during notice and mailing to nearby properties.
An applicant representative described the program as a controlled pilot that Target is rolling out in some California stores and said tasting events are supplier-led and restricted. Planning staff said the city and ABC rules require operator controls; "I can't say with a straight face that selling alcohol is a necessity, but I do feel that it is a public convenience," staff said, explaining the public-convenience finding necessary for the license upgrade.
Council members asked detailed questions about tasting volume, security and hours; staff reiterated the limits (1 oz per taste, maximum three tastes per person per day, tastings limited to certain hours and days, supplier representatives conduct the tasting and Target staff monitor). Council approved Resolution 6730 and directed staff to file a notice of exemption under CEQA; the roll-call vote was four yays and one nay (Council Member Francis voted no). The conditions approved limit tastings to supervised, vendor-led events and restrict the hours and quantity of samples.
What's next: staff will file the notice of exemption and, subject to ABC licensing and the applicant's compliance with conditions, the store will proceed to obtain the Type 21/86 licenses and implement the tasting program under the council's conditions.
