A National City movie theater will not join the 85 American Multi-Cinema theaters nationwide, seven in California, and two in San Diego County to sell alcohol on its premises.
The National City City Council in a 3-2 vote Tuesday night rejected the movie chain’s application for a conditional use permit (CUP) to sell beer, wine and cocktails for onsite consumption at the AMC at Westfield Plaza Bonita.
Mayor Ron Morrison and Councilman Jerry Cano voted in favor of the CUP saying that the National City AMC needs to remain competitive with the other theaters in the area that sell alcohol.
Councilwomen Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, Mona Rios and Councilman Albert Mendivil struck down the measure.
AMC’s proposal included serving alcohol daily from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. in a McGuffins 21-and-up setting where a small bar is separate from the concession stands.
The proposal got approval from the planning commission last January, and was left to the City Council to take action.
The plan included removing the video game arcade section of the theater and replacing that with a small bar and lounge.
Teenagers from the South Bay for Change, an organization that fights alcohol and drug abuse, spoke out against the matter.
Frank Lewis, director of alcohol operations at AMC Theaters, said an alcohol license would have still provided a family-friendly atmosphere.
“We are enhancing the movie going experience,” he said.
Lewis said the city of National City stood to generate between $500,000 to $700,000 in revenue from alcohol sales. He added that it would have also provide more job opportunities for people in the city.
