Studio City movie theater to serve booze

The cinema now holds a restaurant liquor license. Movie theaters across the state are taking advantage of recent changes to state liquor laws that expand the definition of ‘restaurant.’

Audiences at Studio City UW will soon be free to make their moviegoing experiences a little livelier, as the theater plans to start selling alcohol.

The Laramie City Council awarded the theater a restaurant liquor license during its meeting Tuesday, allowing the establishment to serve prepackaged drinks for on-premise consumption to those 21 and older.

Under the restaurant liquor license, no more than 40 percent of the cinema’s concession sales can come from alcohol. At least 60 percent will still have to come from food.

“Over the last several years, we have been asked by our guests if it would be possible for us to serve wine and malt beverages such as is offered in movie theaters in Fort Collins, Denver and other cities in Colorado,” the theater’s owners write in a letter to council. “In fact, there are movie theaters in every surrounding state (even Utah) that have alcohol availability.”

Movie Palace Inc. — Studio City’s parent company — has also applied for and won a restaurant liquor license for its theater in Casper. Capitol Cinema in Cheyenne has done the same.

The new requests come after a change in state law last year. The definition of a “restaurant” was changed when some language — requiring the existence of a dining room, for example — was struck from the law surrounding liquor licenses.

“With the changes to state statutes this last July, it did open up an opportunity for establishments that do serve food items to apply for restaurant liquor licenses,” City Clerk Nancy Bartholomew told councilors Tuesday. “This isn’t traditionally what you would think about when you initially think of a restaurant, but (Studio City) does provide options for pizzas, nachos and quite a few other items. It’s more than just popcorn and candy.”

So Studio City submitted its application in December. The application was approved by the Wyoming Liquor Division and Laramie city staff before going in front of the councilors.

Studio City’s application for a restaurant liquor license was the first of its kind in Laramie.

“I’m excited about this application,” Councilor Andi Summerville said. “I’m excited about the changes that have been made at the State Legislature to put more options on the ground for businesses. And I wish them the best of luck, being the first applicant in the door for this type of license in the city.”

Councilor Erin O’Doherty said she understood the theater’s need to diversify its revenue sources.

“I am concerned that we have a lot of people going into the dark after they’re served,” she said. “So I think your employees will have to be hyper vigilant about people passing the beer down to their friends.”

Theater manager Corey Witte said those who are carded and served will be given bracelets and that staff will be on patrol.

The theater paid the city just more than $560 for license and processing fees on top of a $1,750 annual fee.

City Council approved the license on an 8-1 vote, with only Mayor Paul Weaver voting against.