Arlington coffee shop given initial approval to sell alcohol near public school
Nehemiah Coffee in Arlington may be allowed to sell alcohol out of its 505 E. Lamar Blvd. storefront despite its proximity to a public school after the city council gave initial approval to special permission Tuesday night.
The council approved the exception to city ordinance 8-1, with Councilman Raul Gonzalez in opposition.
Nehemiah Coffee plans to open its shop within a 300 foot proximity of Jones Academy. The shop will be in the Arlington Commons multi-use development, with both retail and apartments in the same development.
In Arlington, any business that wants to sell alcohol within 300 feet of a church, school or public hospital has to receive special permission from the council.
The coffee shop has already applied with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to receive a license to sell beer and wine, according to city documents.
Tony Rutigliano, the applicant, said a prohibition of alcohol sales would prevent the business from doing well, and a wall that separates the back of the shop from Jones Academy makes it effectively more than 300 feet away from the school because nobody would be able to walk between the school and shop without having to go around the wall.
A fence and apartment buildings will also separate the shop from the school, according to Rutigliano. The council will be asked to give final approval to the resolution allowing the sale of alcohol at the shop at its next regular meeting.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 8:11 PM.