by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino

City officials consider a code amendment that could let wine shops, like Island Wine Time, serve drinks without meeting full restaurant food requirements. SC photo by Emilie Alfino

At its Oct. 27, 2026, meeting, the Planning Commission discussed a possible amendment to the Land Development Code that would allow establishments to serve wine without meeting the restaurant standard for food sales.

Island Time Wine currently operates a retail wine shop with a tasting room at 2407 Periwinkle Way (The Islander Center). In July 2025, the City issued a permit to allow “a retail wine store involving on-site food preparation or processing (a tasting room serving wine by the glass with snacks and cheese/charcuterie boards) with 20 indoor seats.”

The City received a complaint, and an investigation revealed that Island Time Wine’s business model did not comply with the conditional use permit issued or the applicable provisions of the Code of Ordinances.

In consideration of the value provided by the business to the City and previous permit approvals, Council voted to waive the application fee associated with Island Time Wine’s petition to amend the Land Development Code and to pause enforcement of the food-to-sales ratio while the request is under review by Council and Planning Commission, allowing the business to continue to operate.

Without the requested amendment currently under discussion, except for performing arts centers and live performance theaters (BIG ARTS, for example), the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption is permitted only as an incidental use to the sale of food for on-premises consumption. Restaurants or other food businesses permitted to serve alcoholic beverages must provide that food service facilities will remain open serving appropriate food items on the menu at all times coincident with the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Currently, the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption is prohibited whenever the sale of alcoholic beverages accounts for more than 49 percent of the combined gross sales attributable to the sale of food and beverages for any 12 months.

The Commissioners recommended amending the Land Development Code to create a stand-alone use for a retail wine shop (the Planning Commission added beer to the permitted alcoholic beverages, but not spirits) with on-premises consumption, allowed by approval of a conditional use permit, in the commercial zoning districts.

This will now go to a public hearing.

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