Beatrice council recommends Class C liquor license for Vinnie’s Alchemy & Spirits after public hearing

The Beatrice City Council unanimously recommended approval of a Class C liquor license for DeCool Investments LLC, doing business as Vinnie’s Alchemy & Spirits at 205 North 19th Street.

City staff opened the public hearing with a zoning review and a background check summary. Chet McQuery, Community Development Director, told the council the application was an ownership change and that Planning and Zoning had cleaned up the special use permit; a background investigation conducted by the city and police department showed no disqualifying issues for proprietors Vinnie and Tamara DeAndrea.

Applicant Vinnie DeAndrea introduced himself and his wife. “I’m Vinnie DeAndrea. This is my wife, Tamara,” he said, then described the business as a small lounge with retail sales. When asked about a proposed drive-up service, DeAndrea said the setup would be “more like a drive-up teller” and that “the checking IDs would be done right there, just like it would be done at any sale.”

Council members noted that applicants were present for the hearing — a point one member said influenced their vote: “If you’re not here or your representative isn’t here, I vote against your liquor license,” the council member said, explaining a practice of withholding votes when applicants do not appear.

The hearing was closed and the council moved to recommend the application to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission; the motion passed 8-0. Planning and Zoning’s prior approval of the required special use permit was noted during the motion.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for final action; the city’s record indicates staff found no impediment in the background checks.

Next steps: the commission will review the application and issue a final determination at a subsequent state hearing or administrative review.