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Read the press release here.

Whole Foods Columbus Circle Plans to Offer Cocktails to Grocery Shoppers

By Emily Frost | June 6, 2014 7:00am
 The grocery store chain will add liquor to its wine and beer selections at its Columbus Circle location. 
Whole Foods to Serve Liquor at Columbus Circle
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UPPER WEST SIDE — The Columbus Circle Whole Foods Market is planning to offer grocery shoppers liquor at its in-store bar.

The West 59th Street store, which already serves wine and beer at its bar On Tap, won approval from Community Board 4 to serve spirits at the 40-seat venue.

The store still needs approval from the State Liquor Authority before the license is official, Whole Foods public relations representative Michael Sinatra said.

"We will eventually utilize it to serve some unique cocktails and fun drinks that pair with our food in the tap room," he said. 

The news comes after outcry earlier this week from a Brooklyn community board that rejected Whole Foods' bid to serve liquor at its Gowanus store. The idea of the hard stuff getting served at the store's rooftop bar rankled board members who thought it sounded too much like a "nightclub."

The company's Columbus Circle application was a different story. 

"Whole Foods is one the most uncontroversial applications we’ve seen in a while," said Business Licenses and Permits Committee co-chair Paul Seres.