Here’s some good news for local micro-brew fans: The Minneapolis City Council passed two amendments today that remove the distance requirements between religious places of assembly and on- and off-sale liquor-schilling establishments.
Championed by council member Gary Schiff (Ward 9), the amendments to Title 14, Chapter 360 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances will allow businesspersons like Rob Miller of Dangerous Man Brewing Company to operate an establishment that sells on- and off-sale liquor within 300 feet of houses of worship. Previously, only businesses that maintained a food-to-alcohol revenue ratio of 60/40 were allowed to do so (which is why you had to order food if you wanted to order a late-night beer at, say, Anchor Fish and Chips).
Schiff told The Journal before the council’s decision: “It’s all about jobs. I can show you a vacant building within every city ward within 300 feet of a church that’s correctly zoned for a small restaurant . . . It’s really about leveling the playing field so all small businesses can operate on the same field. We will reduce vacant buildings if this bill passes.” Jobs and more local beer? Time for a toast.
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6:17 am
[...] Minnesota: This November the Minneapolis City Council passed amendments, removing the required 300 feet of distance between alcohol-serving -selling businesses and houses of worship. As I wrote about in November, this regulatory liberation is the direct result of small brewers pushing for updates to Minnesota laws that allow them to operate, profit, and stimulate the state economy. [...]