Westwood’s CityTarget is one step closer to adding alcohol to its shelves, a possibility that has garnered mixed reactions from community members.
Target officials have been conflicting with the local community about its desire to sell alcohol before the store opened in late July.
The store, a recent addition to Westwood, failed to receive permission to sell alcohol, known as a conditional use permit, earlier this year from neighborhood organizations.
The permit was originally denied because Westwood already has five “off-site” alcohol vendors ““ stores that sell alcohol to be consumed off their property like Ralphs and Trader Joe’s. Westwood also has more than 20 “on-site” alcohol vendors that sell alcohol to be consumed on the property such as restaurants or bars. CityTarget’s intersection already has various other alcohol vendors including a Ralphs in the same building.
Previous attempts to receive a sixth off-site license in Westwood by CVS and Sav-on Pharmacy have all been rejected, said Steve Sann, the chair of the Westwood Neighborhood Council. Sann said the Westwood Neighborhood Council and many members of local Westwood organizations are opposed to the sale of alcohol by Target.
After their original request to sell alcohol was denied, Target representatives responded with an appeal which passed in the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, which manages how properties are used, with a vote of 3-1 earlier this month, said Rhonda Ketay, commission executive assistant for the planning commission.
Commissioners who voted in favor of the appeal said CityTarget tends to attract customers outside of Westwood who prefer to buy all their desired products ““ including alcohol ““ from a single location, according to the planning commission’s website.
CityTarget plans to go through the necessary steps to get an alcohol license, said Mya Walters, a Target spokeswoman, in an email statement.
The Los Angeles City Council will now decide whether the CityTarget will receive a conditional use permit in the coming months, Sann said. If the council approves the permit, the business will be able to apply for and receive a liquor license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and then be able to sell alcohol.
Student opinions on the possibility of buying alcohol from Target differ.
Adam Swart, a fourth-year political science student and board member of the Westwood Community Council, testified against Target’s appeal to sell alcohol. He would prefer for Target to sell other things Westwood needs, such as shoes, because plenty of places already sell alcohol, he said.
Third-year statistics student James Lepore doesn’t think adding another alcohol vendor would change much because it would not stop people from going next door to Ralphs, he added.
“I don’t think alcohol should be so readily available around college campuses,” Lepore said, “But if you need to buy alcohol, I do not really think that having six places to get it from will make any difference from having five.”
agonzalez@media.ucla.edu