Pittsburgh Mills Cinemark wants liquor license for new restaurant
Cinemark plans to open a restaurant in its movie theater at the Pittsburgh Mills mall that sells beer, and maybe wine, too.
And moviegoers would be able to take their beer or wine back to their seats in the movie theater.
The Texas-headquartered theater chain is asking the Frazer supervisors to approve the transfer of a restaurant liquor license into Frazer from Glassport.
A public hearing on the request will be held during a special supervisors meeting Jan. 2.
According to the company's application to the township through the law firm of Flaherty & O'Hara, Cinemark will be operating a restaurant inside the movie theater in which it intends to sell beer and possibly wine for consumption on the premises.
In addition to offering beer and wine in the restaurant, Cinemark intends to allow customers to take those drinks back to their theater seats, according to R.J. O'Hara, the attorney handling the license transfer for the company.
“It's what's happening across the country, both with Cinemark and its competitors, to give customers the option to take their drink to their seats,” O'Hara said. “It's another amenity to keep people coming.”
The application describes the restaurant as “family-friendly,” with interior connections or openings to the theater. It will seat at least 30.
The restaurant would be open for lunch and dinner, with meals ranging from $8 to $14, the application states.
The menu will not include liquor.
Because no restaurant liquor licenses are for sale in Frazer, Cinemark has entered into an agreement to buy a liquor license held by China Park Restaurant in Glassport.
The transfer requires approval from Frazer supervisors and the state Liquor Control Board.
In its application to the township, Flaherty & O'Hara said it will give complete information on the operations of Cinemark's proposed restaurant and answer questions from the township supervisors and the public.
Cinemark operates 529 theaters, nine of which are in Pennsylvania.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer. Assistant City Editor Dave Williams contributed to this report.
