Council waives alcohol rule for co-op

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin City Council approved a waiver Thursday night for a new Wheatsville Co-op to sell alcohol within 300 feet of the Ann Richards School for Young Women.

City rules normally prohibit such sales within that range. Wheatsville officials said alcohol accounts for around 10 percent of all sales at its existing store on Guadalupe.

“A lot of hard-to-find brews. A lot of aged beers that you would put up on a shelf,” said Raquel Dadomo, Wheatsville spokeswoman. “Once they see what a co-op can do in their neighborhood, I think people will be really excited and happy about that.”

The new location in a vacant building on South Lamar across from the school is set to open in the spring. The site is closer to the school than the rule normally allows.

“It kind of encourages kids to consume alcohol or think that it's okay,” said Sharea Johnson, a shopper in the Lamar Oaks Shopping Center where Wheatsville will soon set up shop.

The Austin Independent School District said it would maintain its 300-foot policy but would leave the final decision up to the city.

“Let the business do their business like you normally do anywhere else,” said Jan Stout, another shopper.