Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26 & Imax in northeast Long Beach has a chance at joining the increasing number of cinemas to serve alcohol to moviegoers.

Members of Long Beach’s Planning Commission are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to approve a conditional use permit allowing theater operators to serve beer and wine to patrons. Long Beach staffers are recommending approval to commissioners.

Regal Entertainment Group of Knoxville, Tennessee, owns the Edwards Theatres Brand. As of the end of June, Regal Entertainment served alcoholic beverages in 172 cinemas, which according to the company’s most recent quarterly report, meant that some 35 percent of its customers attended theaters where it was possible to purchase adult beverages.

The company plans to expand alcohol sales to about 215 cinemas by year’s end. Regal operates 566 theaters in U.S. states and territories, according to its website.

Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26 & Imax is part of the Long Beach Towne Center.

Elsewhere in Long Beach, AMC Marina Pacifica 12 presently sells alcohol, with theater operators there having received planning commissioners’ approval to do so a little more than one year ago.