Plans for Eskimo Hut on ice
San Marcos has had two Eskimo Huts in the past — convenience store-type establishments that sell alcohol to go. But hopes for a third were dampened last week when the Planning and Zoning Commission denied a conditional use permit for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
The staff presentation, presented by planner Will Parrish, noted that the applicant would be selling alcohol to go to walk-up and drive-thru customers and would sell the beverages in sealed plastic bags — a method approved by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Parrish said that city staff had concerns about Eskimo Hut’s Styrofoam containers ending up in the river and headlights from the drive-thru aiming at some single-family residences. Moreover, Parrish said, the chief of police had concerns about the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages to drive-thru customers because of a likelihood that the beverages would be consumed while the vehicle is in operation. Staff recommended denial of the permit, or approval with the condition that drinks not be served in foam-based containers.
“We are good citizens,” said Nelson Riley, the applicant. “We want to uphold the letter of the law.”
Riley said that he runs Eskimo Huts in San Antonio and noted that there had been franchises in San Marcos before. Riley further said that he would not mind moving away from Styrofoam containers and offering customers reusable containers for an upcharge.
Jason Mock, president of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the commission in favor of the permit for Eskimo Hut.
“I just hope that we say yes to this,” he said.
Mock pointed out that the drive-thru pointing toward single-family residences was approved when that retail center was designed and no one complained about it. And as for concerns that people will open their drinks while driving, Mock said that possibility already exists with any alcoholic beverage.
“You can go buy a bottle of Jack Daniel’s right now and pop it open on your way home,” he said.
Vance Elliott, who owns the retail center where the Eskimo Hut would be located, said that he had no complaints about the drive-thru.
“I had no opposition whatsoever from the single-family homes,” he said.
Elliott also said he was looking forward to someone putting that space to use.
“That space has been dormant and it needs to be used,” he said.
However, the commissioners ultimately shared the concerns of city staff and the police chief. A motion to approve the conditional use permit for Eskimo Hut received no second; a motion to deny the permit passed.
Another alcohol sale permit on P&Z’s agenda last week was approved with an amendment barring outdoor amplified music. Shai Yo Thai Cuisine and Grill, located in the shopping center on the corner of Sessom and North LBJ, received a permit to sell beer and wine for on-premise consumption.
