Anti-chain store sentiment hits Capitola in form of petition - ...

There's a bit of anti-chain store sentiment sweeping the streets these days in the form of a petition, which is trying to keep Beverages & More out of town.

[Joe Eugene -- Live Oak]

I'm generally anti-chain myself, being a longtime Santa Cruzer, but on first thought I'm in favor of this. I like good wines and they are hard to find in the area. Supermarkets carry a limited selection, for the most part, and mostly low- to mid-quality; it will be good to have some breadth of selection at BevMo. I am also a fan of 41st Ave Liquors because of their excellent variety of spirits and beers but, like so many places, they don't have room for a lot of wine. I don't see myself shopping any less often there because of BevMo.

[Right on Time]

Joe, finding good wine is as close as any number of the local and EXCELLENT wine-tasting rooms in our fair area! Also, a trip to Cost Plus World Market should fulfill nearly, if not all of your wine fantasies with their amazing selection.
I am not opposed to chain stores, but I would like to see something besides BevMo show up on 41st Ave. The street is becoming a blight, with further congestion expected as soon as they sell those crazy condos their building.
I'd like to see a good restaurant in some of the available space. Some good eats with some decent parking is unavailable to us right now.
Capitolans, let's leave the "anti"-this or "anti"-that petitions to our looney neighbors in Santa Cruz. We're better than that.

[Aimee Hobson]

I think 82 store locations in California, and another 8 in Arizona, that share a brand and central management with standardized business methods and practices, certainly qualifies them as a chain. Furthermore they are owned by a 2.5 billion dollar, mulit-national company based in London, England and New York.

The Planning Commission vote was 2 to 1, not 3 to 1 as stated. Many concerns were raised by all three present and voting Commissioners. The Commissioner who voted against the proposal clearly stated she wanted it to come back to the Planning Commission as a complete plan with the mentioned concerns addressed.

[local]

I think it's great. Let people decide where they want to shop not the over priced liquor store across the street.

[Eough is Enough]

This is why I shop on the other side of the hill.
Lets keep the competition out.

[Shopper]

I have a problem with Dennis Norton saying the city cannot regulate commerce - he was very opposed to a pet supply store opening where Ralph's used to be. He wanted Whole Foods, seems like what Dennis wants Dennis gets. Anyway as a neighbor and shopper I could care less if a liquor store opens. It will make the check out lines shorter at Longs. I'm always amazed by the amount of people who go to Longs just to buy alcohol.

[Stripper]

Santa Cruz is lacking a Strip Club. I think every town needs one!!! I thought we in Santa Cruz were liberal people and we can't even have a Hooters here.

[Debbie]

They ARE a chain!

[Lorenzo]

Yea..bring on the BEvMO....awesome store!!

Who fricking cares if it is a chain on 41st ??

Duhhh....have you noticed all the other stores on 41st?? They are all chains...so whats the big deal?

This is a petition by one crappy liquor store that sells overpriced wine and booze **** them!

And Stripper is right....we need a strip club too!

[collin]

I have no doubt in my mind that a BevMo will be successful on 41st Ave. I've been waiting for this for a long time; open tomorrow, please!

[Cap Res]

No doubt the council will vote it in. The vote is suspect. Cap Council is suspect with all the benifits to Swenson as of late, oh wait, that is Pirie in all her illegal glory.
The alcoholics will be happy. What the community needs is not another chain, especially one catering to Alcoholics. That space needs to be used for something useful and more pleasing to the residents. The Bev Mo's in San Jose, are run down, sad ugly places where only alcoholics shop and the worst of society hangs out. This is not what Capitola needs. Most people are to smart to drink alcohol anymore and those that do, are generally ones with addiction issues.
I urge everyone to sign the petition. Lets try to stop this madness. We lost the end of 41st, now lets try to save this area for what is left of Capitola. Pirie take note, we will not stand for your glad handing any longer. A better use would be a pet store.

[Peking]

I'm infavor of a strip club only if the strippers are male.

If the consumers don't want to spend their money in BevMo then it will close. competition is always good.

[Hugh G Rection]

People... The time for "chain store" banishment is over. It's a reality. In case you haven't opened your eyes, or left your house in the past few years, let me give you a little run down of what's in our neighborhoods:

Best Buy
Circuit City
Toys R Us
Baja Fresh
Coldstone
Mcdonalds
Jack in the box
Taco Bell
Burger King
Togos, Subway
Armadillo Willeys
Ross
Cost Plus
Pet Smart
Office Max
Office Depot
Home Depot
Trader Joes
Borders
Urban Outfitters
Starbucks (3 of them in Capitola alone)

and the list will continue...

Bring on BevMo. I love that store...

[Greg]

This is not just only an issue of another chain store opening up in the area but also an issue of another liquor store opening up in the area. Santa Cruz county already has more liquor outlets per person then any other area in California. The ABC gives out licenses based on population. BevMo will have to attain a letter from Capitola Planning stating that there is a "necessity and convenience" issue involved. That will be a hard one to prove. That area has been given the approval for 17 liquor outlets and there are currently over 30 in existence! How many more does the city, and that area, need?'
BevMo is a chain. There is no question a bout that. They are trying to portray themselves as something they are not. They have also been very sneaky about where they posted their signs about the planning hearings. In the back of the store where no one would see it.
This would definitely hurt the small, local owned, businesses. BevMo uses their bulk buying power to drive down prices which puts a burden on other businesses in the area. It's the WalMart of the liquor world. And we've all seen what WalMart does to local businesses.
This is a bad idea. It's an business that will, in the end, hurt the local economy.

[BLAH]

Cap Res wrote:

The Bev Mo's in San Jose, are run down, sad ugly places where only alcoholics shop and the worst of society hangs out. A better use would be a pet store.

Yeah Cap Res, BevMo is MUCH more seedy than 41st or Verutti's. Please, go get a pet at the SPCA while the rest of us enjoy premium beverages at decent prices.

[Ajax W]

Cap Res wrote:

No doubt the council will vote it in. The vote is suspect. Cap Council is suspect with all the benifits to Swenson as of late, oh wait, that is Pirie in all her illegal glory.
The alcoholics will be happy. What the community needs is not another chain, especially one catering to Alcoholics. That space needs to be used for something useful and more pleasing to the residents. The Bev Mo's in San Jose, are run down, sad ugly places where only alcoholics shop and the worst of society hangs out. This is not what Capitola needs. Most people are to smart to drink alcohol anymore and those that do, are generally ones with addiction issues.
I urge everyone to sign the petition. Lets try to stop this madness. We lost the end of 41st, now lets try to save this area for what is left of Capitola. Pirie take note, we will not stand for your glad handing any longer. A better use would be a pet store.

Are you for real? The store is called Bev Mo not Alcoholic Mo. hey sell much more than alcohol. They have an excellent selection of sodas from all over the country. Many are from small businesses that are keeping alive the orange and cream sodas and old fashioned root beer. They have greeting cards, gift bags, chips, salsa and other snacks. The store in Gilroy is extremely clean and the workers are very helpful. Just because some people like to purchase resonably priced wine it does NOT mean they are alcholics. Apparently you've been in the Bev Mo in San Jose, so does that make you an alcoholic? Get a life...Get real.

[Pamparius]

"There's a bit of anti-chain store sentiment sweeping the streets these days in the form of a petition, which is trying to keep Beverages & More out of town." -- Where was that sentiment when Home Depot, Best Buy, Panda Express, and 4 Starbucks just on 41st were installed?(I'd like to see Chill Out "We Roll The Fatties" and their terrible coffee/burritos close down though. Dude, slow down, I am too stoned to take your order). The hypocrisy of this town is maddening. We broke the seal, let in the chains, might as let in BevMo. Plus they have an excellent wine selection for the upper crusters.

41st Liquors is a great store with quite a rare selection of quality beer and wine. And I'd still support them for what they have to offer.

[Pamparius]

Stripper wrote:

Santa Cruz is lacking a Strip Club. I think every town needs one!!! I thought we in Santa Cruz were liberal people and we can't even have a Hooters here.

I fully agree. All the girls who turned lesbian cause they couldn't get guys' attention would be too PC and offended.

[JQPublic]

Yes, bring on BevMo. If anything it will give a boost to the local Wine industry if they promote Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains to tourists.

[James S]

I find it almost painful the type of answers given to the questions asked. "I like the store hours", "don't sell cigarettes" and my favorite "Is it just because we have different stores in different states?"

Topical answers to a very serious problem, I challenge all to research more deeply a now common senario that is happening everywhere in the US.. big is not better.(except for a select few)