O.B. Planning Board approves liquor license for new CVS

On December 5 the Ocean Beach Planning Board voted 8-1 in favor of allowing the proposed new CVS Pharmacy to sell liquor; it will be an ABC license Type 21 with certain limitations that relate to a “community benefits” package proposed at an earlier meeting by Gretchen Kinney Newsom, the president of the OB Town Council who now favors CVS moving into the old Apple Tree Market at 4949 Santa Monica Avenue.

These limitations include not selling any single bottles smaller than 750 ml and no high-malt-liquor beverages, which CVS project manager Tom Wilhelm said is favored by transients.

CVS said they are planning to sign a lease soon. However, a source says that CVS has already signed a 25-year lease with eight 5-year options to renew. The source also claimed that the rent is over $35,000 a month.

Wilhelm stated that they will keep half the parking lot open to the public for community parking, which is fairly limited. He said it would take about three to four months to get permits for everything, so he had no idea when they would break ground.

Wilhelm also said that between 25 and 40 employees will be hired, and they'll receive healthcare benefits for working only a 24-hour workweek.