City Council says no to beer and wine at West Mall 7 movie theater

The City Council unanimously rejected a request from a Sioux Falls movie theater to sell beer and wine Tuesday night, citing concerns about about age enforcement and exposing minors to alcohol.

West Mall 7 owner Todd Fragor wanted to get in on the cinema industry trend of offering alcohol during movie showings, a service provided in other metropolitan cities around the country. He planned to use some open floor space of his Western Mall theater lobby for a wine and beer kiosk where patrons of legal drinking age would receive a wristband.

So after clearing all the necessary zoning requirements to be eligible to sell alcohol on its premises, he applied for a permit.

Previously: West Mall 7 looks to sell beer, wine during movie showings

But all eight city councilors had other ideas, voting against Fragor's application when he was unable to convince them he could ensure adults wouldn't share their beverages with children. The theater's proximity to a gaming arcade where children frequent also factored into some of the councilors' votes.

"My concern is, as a parent ... I really don't want to deal with someone who has had a couple drinks coming out of there," Councilor Michelle Erpenbach said. "It's not a standalone building, and it's just far too close to where tons and tons of kids are."

But Fragor took issue with that rationale, pointing out that at least three other businesses in the Western Mall offer alcohol to their patrons, including a casino. And some establishments with children as their target audience, like Chuck-E-Cheese's, sell beer.

"We've got a casino down at the end of the hall, and the restaurant out front serves alcohol, and they have full liquor," he said. "That precedent was set 20 years ago."

Councilor Rick Kiley said the difference between Chuck-E-Cheese's is people don't leave their kids unattended there like they might at the West Mall 7 or the arcade next door.

"One scenario is they're supervised by adults, and another scenario they are not," he said.