Attachment A Request: Conditional Use approval to permit the sale of gourmet beer, wine and distilled spirits in a retail store for off-site consumption from 9am - 9pm and the sale of gourmet beer and wine for on-site consumption from 2pm – 9pm in an adjoining and accessory tasting room with food available, not required, with controlled access limited to persons over 21 years of age. There are a total of 19 seats in the tasting room area consisting of 5 indoor seats and 14 patio seats, and the combined establishment totals 1,972 square feet of indoor space and 453 square feet of on-site patio space No Revocable Permit is required. Premises is situated on the lower Plaza level of One Cal Plaza, 300 S. Grand, and has no street visibility. Retail store and tasting room together comprise the store DBA, “Gourmet Wines & Spirits”, located Downtown for more than 25 years, until recently located at 626 Wilshire Boulevard. Applicant requests: a Conditional Use Permit (CUB) pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.24 W.1 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, as follows, for: 1. The off-site sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits in a retail store (Type 21) license for off-site consumption of bottled fine wines, spirits and gourmet beers. 2. The on-site accessory sales, service and consumption of beer and wine only for an accessory tasting room (Type 42). Project Description The tenant, DBA Gourmet Wine & Spirits seeks a new CUB to continue its existing business, the retail off- site sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits and a tasting room. The tasting room would allow limited on- site accessory consumption of beer and wine, totaling 19 seats, 5 interior seats and 14 on the outdoor patio. The retail store will also sell food products, snacks and sundries. Food will always be available to patrons in the tasting room. The tasting room is limited to persons 21 years of age or older. Gourmet Wines & Spirits is a purveyor of fine wines, liquors and beers. Gourmet Wine & Spirits seeks to continue its combined retail sales and tasting room business, which it has operated downtown for over 25 years. The proposed use for subject premises are the same as the previously approved alcohol uses at its former two locations, first in ARCO Plaza’s lower level (now known as City National Plaza) and it’s most recent, now closed, location at 626 Wilshire Boulevard. The Applicant has a patron demographic that is distinct from a more typical liquor store by price point and alcohol selection, as follows: The least expensive wines cost approximately $15-$20 and, at the high end cost several thousand dollars per bottle. As a niche retailer, Gourmet Wines offers wines by the full bottle or half bottle, as well as champagne splits, individual cans and bottles of beer, and miniatures of distilled spirits for those that want a tasting size prior to purchasing a larger bottle. In addition, the retailer also sells fine ports. Lower end fortified wines or single malt liquors, intended to facilitate a fast intoxication will not be sold. Wines account for approximately 60% of the store inventory while the other 40% is comprised of 70 brands of beer and distilled spirits. In 2012, the LA Weekly rated them one of the Ten Best alcohol retailers in Los Angeles. The tasting room will not provide a kitchen but there will always be food available to accompany on-site fine wine and beer consumption. Food choices are paired to the wines and include but are not limited to: wide assortment of gourmet cheeses and crackers, pates, meat platters, shrimp plates, fruit plates, Prepared by Kate Bartolo & Associates Page 1 of 8 May 27, 2014
biscuits, breads, chips, and some deli sandwiches and salads. Additional foods and sundries will be available for sale, many of which are commonly sold with alcoholic products. The retail store will also sell an array of packaged and fresh foods, including but not limited to: sandwiches, cheeses, breads, crackers, chocolates, candies, gum, chips, and a diverse assortment of nuts. In addition, an array of non- alcoholic beverages will be sold. Applicant intends to relocate to Bunker Hill, where most of its long-time customer base is now situated. Its patrons are predominantly comprised of professionals who work in downtown, especially, Bunker Hill offices. They include major law firms, banking, accounting, and other industry professionals. Applicant serves individuals as well as corporate accounts, a portion of which are for corporate gift-giving and gift baskets. The Applicant also sells gourmet selections to customers worldwide. The location choice of a back, not readily visible location on the lower plaza level within the One Cal Plaza mega office project underscores the fact that its alcohol sales are not impulse driven, but rather destination oriented. Its patrons will be informed directly of the shop relocation. The site is not visible from the street. Tenant plans tenant improvements that qualitatively exceed those in its previous location and can be expected to include: fine custom wood cabinetry, floor to ceiling glass, raised interior ceilings, marble facade finishes, and new state of the art wine refrigeration/storage. The most recent prior use was as an office to the adjacent unrelated restaurant. Property Description The subject property is presently a vacant retail space that is part of the existing California Plaza mixed- use project comprised of two levels of retail, two high-rise office buildings, a central water court, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the Omni Hotel, the Museum Tower Apartments, and six levels of subterranean parking. The subject property, address, 300 S. Grand, Suite #LP-110, is located at the back end of a lower plaza level plaza concourse that includes a curtain-style waterfall feature and spiral steps leading to the main Plaza level and up to the street level, Grand Avenue. Public access to the subject property is available through the lower level plaza concourse or from elevators adjacent to the subject premises entrance. Cal Plaza One is consistent with its 1980’s era development in its relative paucity of retail uses. Located in the Central City Community Plan Area, the subject property has the General Land Use Designation of Regional Center Commercial, lies in the R5-4D Zone, and is located within the Bunker Hill Specific Plan, the Los Angeles State Enterprise Zone and the Central City Parking District. The subject property is located entirely within the California Plaza development, bounded on the west by Grand Avenue (a Modified Major Highway II), on the east by Olive Street (a Modified Secondary Highway), on the north by General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way (a Local Street) and on the south by West 4 th Street (a Modified Secondary Highway). The property is not visible from any street or public-right-of-way or to any residences. Surrounding Properties & Circulation The subject premises are part of the greater California Plaza development that is built into the eastern flank of the Bunker Hill topographical feature. As such, surrounding properties to the north, south and east are on sloping topography and the properties to the west (on top of the hill) are on level topography with improved streets. Surrounding zoning consists of R5-4D and C2-4D zones. Surrounding uses consist of multifamily housing, high-rise office, restaurants, retail, hotel, museum, music school, and pedestrian plazas. To the east is Angelus Plaza, a 1,093 unit senior housing community, to the south is the 17-story AT&T Switching Center and a surface parking lot; to the west is the 2.5 million square foot Wells Fargo Prepared by Kate Bartolo & Associates Page 2 of 8 May 27, 2014
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